PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's lacrosse team celebrated Senior Day with a come-from-behind victory to stay in the playoff hunt, defeating Wilkes University 13-12 thanks to a game-winning goal from senior Andrew Murray (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) late in the fourth quarter at GoValiants.com Field.
 
It was a rainy afternoon in Purchase, but the elements did not slow down either squad as the two teams combined for 25 goals on 78 shots in a high-energy contest between the two MAC Freedom teams. Manhattanville held an eight-shot edge in shots, 43-35, and held a three-shot edge in shots on target, 25-22. Despite winning just eleven of 29 face offs, the Crimson and Black forced nine turnovers and took advantage of a total of 22 Wilkes turnovers in the contest.
 
Murray led the charge as one of seven seniors who were honored for their careers prior to face off Saturday. The Yonkers native scored five goals and added two assists for seven points. The senior now needs just six more goals to reach the century mark for his career and would become the seventh player in program history to reach the mark. Fellow senior Colin Morrissey (Shelton, Conn./St. Joseph) also had a big day on Senior Day, matching his season high with two goals while freshman T.J. Caccavo (Carlsbad, Calif./San Marcos) added three goals as well for the Valiants. Sophomore Tristan Green (Easton, Conn./Joel Barlow) added two tallies and freshman Will Duval (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay) added a single goal as well to round out the scoring for the Valiants. Senior Zach Hoffman (Loudonville, N.Y./LaSalle Institute) earned the win between the pipes for Manhattanville, as he and freshman Jason Frezza (Lake Ronkonkoma/Portledge) combined to make 12 saves on the afternoon to take down the Colonels.
 
The Valiants fell behind in the early goings, but responded with seven consecutive goals over fifteen minutes of game action to take a commanding lead 7-1. Murray, Green, and Caccavo all scored twice during the stretch to help Manhattanville take control. Wilkes was not about to go down quietly however, going on an 11-3 run of their own to tie the score 9-9 with 5:08 to play in the third quarter.
 
Morrissey's second tally of the game gave the home squad the lead late in the third quarter and the Valiants held on to the one-goal edge heading into the final stanza. Again, it was the Colonels however putting together a rally, scoring three consecutive goals in less than two minutes to take a 12-10 lead with 12:27 to play.
 
Murray put home his third goal of the contest 39 seconds later to draw within one goal, and leveled the scoring with 4:03 to play. Morrissey helped the Valiants have a fitting end to Senior Day, scoring the game-winner with 2:44 to play. Manhattanville held Wilkes without a shot the remainder of the way, holding on for the 13-12 win to remain in the postseason hunt.
 
The Valiants improve to 2-3 in conference play with the win, most likely needing to win their final two contests to clinch a spot in the MAC Freedom playoffs for the first time in program history. They will look to make it two in a row at GoValiants.com Field Tuesday when they host the Devils of FDU-Florham beginning at 4:00 pm.