PURCHASE, N.Y. — For the second time this week, the Manhattanville College women's lacrosse team came away with a thrilling victory. The Valiants defeated Alvernia University, 11-10, in overtime on Saturday afternoon in non-conference play at GoValiants.com Field to match the longest winning streak in program history with their fourth straight win.

"It was a solid win," stated head coach Tricia Molfetta. "We played really well defensively and I think this was our best defensive game yet. We made a ton of stops and held some of their best players to low-angle shots."

Just a little over a minute Into the second half of the first overtime period, junior Jenna Nance (Glendale, Calif./Glendale) netted the game-winning goal off of a free-position attempt for Manhattanville (4-1), which has won four of its first five games for just the second time in team history (2009). The four straight wins also match two four-game runs in 2009 and one in 2001 as the longest stretch of wins for the program.

"I was so nervous," admitted Nance. "I knew that we had a great opportunity and everyone worked so hard today that it was up to me to finish it. I couldn't let my team down like that."

The game was not looking good for the Valiants midway through the first half. After each team traded goals and with the game tied at three, the Crusaders scored four unanswered goals to take a 7-3 lead late in the half. Manhattanville (4-1) would respond by netting two goals late in the first to head into halftime trailing by two. Sophomore Katie Zambrotta (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) ended Manhattanville's scoring drought with her fifth goal of the season. Following a blocked shot, junior Olivia Drew (York, Maine/York) went coast-to-coast and found fellow classmate Sarah Dalsey (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City), who went top shelf to cut the Alvernia (2-2) lead to two heading into the break.

"We just chipped away and were really gritty and we executed our gameplan," continued Molfetta. "I think it was a defensive effort today and we just did a really good job of battling back. I told them at halftime you just have to chip away and believe in us and we did."

The Crusaders opened up the second half by finding the back of the net off of a Alyson Keene man-up goal. The Valiants would respond as Manhattanville scored four of the next five goals to tie the game at nine.

Manhattanville recaptured the lead when Zambrotta found Dalsey streaking to the net for Dalsey's third goal of the game. It was Manhattanville's first lead since the 23:23 mark of the first half.

Alvernia responded and tied the game three minutes later when Angel Adams scored off of a free-position to knot the score at 10. Both teams had chances but could not find the back of the net to end regulation.

After controlling the opening draw in overtime, Alvernia had a chance to win it but Abby McCarthy's shot hit off of the post. The Valiants also rung the post as freshman Kat Reilly (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) hit the side of the cage in the waning seconds of the first three minutes of overtime.

In the second half of the OT period, the Crusaders once again opened up with the draw control but turned the ball over. Nance drew a foul against McCarthy inside the arc, which set up Nance's heroics.

A big key to Manhattanville's come from behind victory was the play of their freshman netminder Alana Lopez (Wolcott, Conn./Vermont Academy). Lopez, who picked up her first career victory as a Valiant, recorded 10 of her 14 saves in the second half and overtime.

"I prepared all week for this," commented Lopez. "My coaches and teammates prepared me to step in and do well."

The Crusaders ended up outshooting the Valiants, 31-29. Alvernia was led by McCarthy, who recorded a game-high eight points off of six goals and two assists. Adams accounted for two goals and two assist in the loss for Alvernia.

The Valiants had six different goal scorers to help guide Manhattanville to its first four-game winning streak since 2009. Dalsey led the way with four points off of three goals and an assist. Sophomore Carly Weiss (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) netted all three of her goals in the second half to propel the rally and Nance finished with two goals, including the game-winner. Zambrotta recorded a goal and an assist while freshman Evaline Diaz (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) netted her first career goal and sophomore AnnaMarie Nardone (Thornwood, N.Y./Westlake) scored a goal and Drew had an assist for Manhattanville. 

"We're working really hard and it's showing every single game," added Nance. "The girls impress every game and we're doing better and better, and I think we can go really far."

The Valiants end their three-game homestand undefeated and will head back on the road when Manhattanville travels to Mount St. Mary on Wednesday at 5 p. m. With the win, Manhattanville would record the longest winning streak in program history.

"This is an awesome start for us," concluded Lopez. "We're going to use the momentum to continue our success throughout the season and I think we are prepared to go really far this season."