PURCHASE, N.Y. – Junior goalkeeper Zach Hoffman (Loudonville, N.Y./LaSalle Institute) made a season-high 21 saves but the performance was not enough as the Valiants dropped their MAC Freedom opener against Misericordia University 10-5 in a cold, rainy afternoon Saturday.
 
Hoffman was busy in goal all game, stopping 21 of the 31 shots on goal that he faced.  On the offensive end, freshman Erik Sparby (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Tyler Bentrewicz (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) each found the back of the net twice and sophomore Christian Flores (Avon, Conn./Avon) scored in his first game back from injury.  Bentrewicz also added two assists on the day, and senior Connor Normandin (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) added his third assist of the year.   Defensively, sophomores Jacob Cayton (Stratford, Conn./Stratford) and Chris Ayson (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) each caused three turnovers, and freshman Sam Hahn (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) picked up six ground balls for the second consecutive game.
 
Flores gave the Valiants (3-7 overall, 0-1 MAC Freedom) the early lead, on a one-timer from Normandin.  After the Cougars (6-3 overall, 1-0 MAC Freedom) took the lead with two goals, Sparby leveled the scoring with his tenth goal of the season, but the Cougars retook the lead to hold a 3-2 advantage after one quarter of play.
 
Misericordia scored the first two goals of the second period but Manhattanville answered with Bentrewicz's first of the day.  The two teams played the final seven minutes of the half scoreless and the Cougars took the 5-3 advantage into halftime.
 
The Cougars took control of the game with four goals in the third period.  Bentrewicz scored his second of the day in the quarter, keeping Manhattanville within five goals after the first 45 minutes of action.
 
Sparby cut the deficit to four goals with ten minutes remaining but Manhattanville was shut out the rest of the way.  Misericordia added a final tally with 6:31 to play to take the first conference matchup 10-5.
 
Manhattanville returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Madison, N.J. to take on FDU-Florham at 6:00 P.M.