ONEONTA, N.Y. – Junior
Robin Schaufele (Kalix, Sweden/Kungsfaegeln) scored for the second consecutive game but the Valiants fell short against third ranked SUNY Oneonta at the Mayor's Cup Saturday afternoon.
Last season's final four team showed why they were picked in the top-five in the preseason National Soccer Coaches of America Association preseason poll, firing 19 shots, seven on target to just five shots for the Valiants (3-2 overall), four on goal. Freshman goalkeeper
Tim Carsting (Falun, Sweden/Soltorgsgymnasiet) made five saves on the day, but the effort was not enough as the Red Dragons found the back of the net twice to come away with their second consecutive victory.
Oneonta defender Kevin Hoff gave the Red Dragons a 1-0 lead in the first half with his first career goal. The Valiants fought back in the second half however, when Schaufele struck again for his second goal of the tournament, leveling the score at 1-1. Oneonta didn't take long to strike again though, when Alejandro Ruiz volleyed a shot past Carsting to give the Red Dragons the game-winning goal.
"This weekend was a great experience for us. We had a great team win over RPI on Saturday and gave Oneonta all they could handle today," said head coach
Kyle Dezotell. "Oneonta is a great program-3 final fours in last 4 years-and we posed problems for them throughout. While we always want to win, we can be proud of finishing in second place in this high level tournament competing against three other programs who were all in the NCAA Tournament last season."
With his two goals during the tournament, Schaufele was named Mayor Cup Offensive MVP. Junior
Christoffer Staahl (Lulea, Sweden/Kungsfaegeln), sophomore Michael-Jean Charles, and Carsting were also named to the All-Tournament team for their play on the pitch this weekend.
The Valiants now have a week off to prepare for their next contest, hosting Drew University next Saturday, September 17 in the second leg of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader. Manhattanville students will have the chance to enjoy free Ben & Jerry's ice cream and take part in other festivities as the athletic department officially dedicates the newly renovated GoValiants.com Field between games.
