PURCHASE, N.Y. – Senior Dolores Diemicke (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) made 12 saves as part of a stout defensive effort from the Manhattanville College women's soccer team, but one goal from Kean University late in the first half proved to be enough as the Cougars defeated the Valiants by a 1-0 score in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon at GoValiants.com Field.
 
The only goal of the match came in the 41st minute off the foot of Sabrina Pascarella, who put home a cross from Cori Dengel with 4:44 remaining in the opening half. The shot was the 12th of the half for Kean (3-3-0), which outshot Manhattanville (1-3-0) by a 13-1 margin over the opening 45 minutes.
 
Manhattanville made some adjustments and managed a much higher level of possession in the second half, thanks in part to a switch up front that saw both senior Alex Carlbom (Gothenburg, Sweden/Kents Hill School) and freshman Samira Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Kungsholmens Gymnasium) providing pressure to the Kean backline. Davis managed the team's best chance of the game in the 57th minute, when she slipped through the defense and fired a shot from close range that Kean keeper Lauren Healey barely got a hand on to keep out of the net.
 
The match was halted due to lightning in the 72nd minute, forcing the teams back to the locker rooms. Neither team managed a shot after returning to the field following the 73-minute weather delay, as the Cougars hung on for the one-goal victory.
 
Manhattanville will remain at home on Saturday, when the Valiants host SUNY New Paltz beginning at 3 p.m. There will be a formal dedication ceremony for the new GoValiants.com Field just before the game, while the first 200 fans in attendance will receive free Ben & Jerry's ice cream when they check into the game via the Castle Crew mobile app.