HARTFORD, CT – The Manhattanville College women's hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Trinity Bantams Tuesday night.

The Valiants, three days removed from a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over fellow UCHC member Chatham, found themselves holding the 1-0 lead midway through Tuesday night's affair, but were unable to hold off a persistent Trinity (3-10-0) attack. Freshman Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers) scored for Manhattanville (7-6-1), while Caroline Howell and Kelcie Finn scored for the Bantams.

The two teams played to a scoreless first period featuring 21 saves by Pijaca. Trinity's first period shot total nearly matched the 22.9 shots per game they averaged coming into the contest.

Just past the midway point of the second period, junior Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Northwood School) intercepted a pass in the Manhattanville defensive zone and started ahead, quickly separating herself from the Trinity defensemen. With goalie Kai-Lilly Karpman getting into position to try and save a shot, Mensi dropped a pass back to a trailing Lopes, who took advantage of the suddenly out-of-position Karpman to score her second goal of the season.

After stopping Trinity's first 30 shots, Pijaca conceded the game-tying goal 4:19 after Lopes' score when Howell knocked home a rebound in traffic from just outside the crease.

The score remained 1-1 heading to the 3^rd period; just shy of the midway point, Finn found space just outside the crease and deflected a shot just inside the blue line from Alex Sinson into the back of the net.

The Valiants had opportunities to tie in the final 10 minutes, but Karpman saved the Valiants' final seven shot attempts, finishing with 26 saves. Pijaca finished with 42 saves, a new season high and just two saves shy of her career-high 44 set two years ago against Williams.

Pijaca and the Valiants will face Williams once again tomorrow night at Playland Ice Casino at 7:00 p.m. in their regular season non-conference finale.