UNION, N.J. – The Manhattanville College women's soccer team came up one goal short of a second-half comeback on Wednesday night, as the Valiants fell to Kean University by a 2-1 score in non-conference action at Alumni Stadium.
 
Sophomore Samira Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Kungsholmens Gymnasium) had the lone goal of the night for Manhattanville (1-2-1), while classmate Bella Beltrami (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) made a season-high nine saves to keep her team in the match.
 
Kean (4-2-0) got on the board first in the 12th minute with the first shot of the game by either side, as Emily Jurcsek took a pass from Mallory Noordeloos and found the back of the net for her second goal of the year. The home team bookended the half by scoring on its last shot of the frame as well, with Jordan Thuman doing the honors with her first of the year.
 
Beltrami and the Valiant defense stood tall in the second half despite ceding 14 shot attempts, keeping the Cougars off the scoreboard. Davis then narrowed the gap less than a minute after coming on as a substitution, as she was sprung on a breakaway by freshman Bri Altamuro (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Eastern Christian) and finished it off for her first goal of the year.
 
The Valiants had two shot attempts in the final seven minutes from junior Dany Swidler (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines) and freshman Eileen Fiore (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) to tie the score, but both shots were saved by backup keeper Marissa Cook to keep the home team ahead.
 
Manhattanville will continue non-conference play on Saturday when the Valiants head north to SUNY New Paltz for a 4:30 p.m. match with the Hawks.