MAHWAH, N.J. – Despite giving up a three-goal lead in the second half, the Valiants rallied to take down Ramapo College in a penalty shoot-out Tuesday afternoon in Mahwah in the team's final non-conference game of the season. 
 
The Valiants (11-5 overall) and Roadrunners (2-11 overall) battled all afternoon, matching each other in the shot category with 18 apiece, and the Roadrunners holding just a 14-13 advantage in penalty corners. 
 
The Valiants scored early and often Tuesday, putting home three goals in a span of 11 minutes in the first half.  Senior Bregje Smits (Bussum, Netherlands/Willen de Zwigger College) put Manhattanville on top 1-0 with her 15th goal of the season on a penalty corner from junior Melissa Stys (Pequannock, N.J./Kent School).  Junior Lisa Maxwell (Wassenaar, Netherlands/Maerlant Lyceum) doubled the lead with her third goal of the season six minutes later and senior Amanda Cirocco (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) capped off the first-half scoring on a goal from Maxwell. 
 
Despite taking the 3-0 lead into the halftime break, the Roadrunners did not go away easily.  This time it was Ramapo's turn to go on a roll, beating junior goalkeeper Kaitlin Halloran (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) three times in 13 minutes to level the scoring and force overtime. 
 
In the overtime periods, Manhattanville had several opportunities from point blank range, but Roadrunner goaltender Emily Kramer made a few great saves, including a diving save along the goal line to keep the game tied. 
 
After playing an extra 30 minutes of scoreless field hockey, the Valiants and Roadrunners entered a penalty shootout.  Reigning MAC Freedom Player of the Week, freshman Robin Boot (Bedum, Netherlands/H.N. Werkman College) gave Manhattanville the early advantage by converting the first penalty attempt for Manhattanville.  In the third round, Stys converted her attempt to give Manhattanville a 2-0 advantage, but the Roadrunners answered immediately to make it 2-1.  Ramapo made it 2-2 with a converted attempt in the fourth round, but it was Cirocco converting the clinching attempt in the final round to help the Valiants improve to 11-5 on the year, matching head coach Kevin Kelly's best win total in his nine seasons at the helm of the program.
 
The Valiants will need to keep their momentum going in their final regular season game on Thursday when they travel to FDU-Florham in a huge MAC Freedom showdown as Manhattanville plays for home field advantage throughout the postseason.