PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to DeSales University Wednesday afternoon at GoValiants.com Field.
A goal from Michael Kirby in the 24th minute held up as the winning score as the two teams traded scoring opportunities back and forth throughout the match.
The Valiants (6-7, 1-2 MAC Freedom) pressured DeSales (10-1-2, 2-0-1 MAC Freedom) goalkeeper Dan Sulpizio with five shots in the first 38 minutes, including two from freshman
Pablo Bravo Olle (Barcelona, Spain/LFG Bon Soleil).
DeSales took two shots prior to Kirby's strike, one of which was saved by the Valiants sophomore goalkeeper
Tim Carsting (Falun, Sweden/Soltorgsgymnasiet). Kirby maintained possession in the face of pressure from multiple Manhattanville defenders and knocked home a shot from the top left of the 18-yard box, his fifth goal of the season.
In the 2nd half, Manhattanville's 10 shots forced three more Sulpizio saves, while junior
Jack Balasiano (Fishkill, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) missed the left post by mere inches from the top of the box in the 77th minute. The Bulldogs turned up the offensive intensity in the second half, forcing five Carsting saves in the final 40 minutes. The Valiants had one final opportunity on a free kick from just outside the box in the final 30 seconds after a yellow card on DeSales, but a shot from senior
Jeff Santos (Yonkers, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) sailed high, as the Bulldogs escaped with the win.
Manhattanville finished the match with 18 shots (nine on goal), and eight corner kicks. The Valiants are back in action Saturday on the road against Misericordia at 7:30 pm. The team returns home Tuesday for a 4:00 p.m. affair with the Devils of FDU-Florham.
