WILKES-BARRE, PA. – The Manhattanville College men's soccer team notched 12 total victories this season, the most for the program since 2011. Unfortunately, the Valiants were unable to get lucky number 13 Tuesday night, Oct. 31, in a cold and raucous environment at King's College (Pa.). Third-seeded Manhattanville dropped the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom semifinal match to the No. 2 Monarchs 1-0 in overtime.

The Valiants (12-5, 5-2 MACF) were hounded in their own zone all night by King's (11-5-2, 5-2 MACF), as the Monarchs outshot the road squad Manhattanville 17-3, including 8-0 in shots on goal. Despite that, rookie keeper Charles Roberts (Brown Mills, N.J./Pemberton Township) was outstanding in net for the Valiants, making seven saves.

Charles first stop was a huge one immediately off a Monarch corner in the seventh minute of the game. Then, in the 13th minute following a free kick, Roberts was able to catch a deflection in front to keep it scoreless. Just before the first half ended, there was another foul on Manhattanville that led to a free kick for King's, but Roberts was able to gobble up the Monarch header. He only had to make two saves in the second half to force overtime.

"Without Charles, we are definitely not in a position to keep this game close, let alone have a shot to win it, so hats off to him," said head coach Steve DeMatteo.

Despite not getting the ball on net, the Valiants had two solid scoring chances in the second half. At the end of the 70th minute, freshman midfielder Nico Diaz (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto) snuck behind the King's backline and was able to push the ball to the outside. He got a quality look at the goal, but pushed it just wide right as the game remained scoreless. Then, just after a Monarch yellow card, another rookie, forward Kendall Davis (Bound Brook, N.J./Immaculata) broke free in the 77th minute. Unfortunately, the first-year player pushed it just wide to the right as well and the game would eventually go to overtime.

Things were locked in a stalemate for the majority of the first extra period as neither squad managed a shot on net for the first 7:29. But then, on a relatively harmless play where King's cleared the ball to the other end, Roberts came decently far out for Manhattanville to corral it but misplayed the ball. King's would end up with an open net opportunity and converted for the golden goal. The Monarchs advance to the MAC Freedom championship game at top-seeded Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa., this Saturday, November 3.

"Our youth was a positive and a little bit of a negative throughout the season, but we knew that going in," continued DeMatteo. "King's is experienced and they play in the semifinals nearly every year, while this was the first time we've been here as a team. We have a lack of experience but it's about gaining that experience for the young guys for the next time we're in this position. They're getting better every day. We'll wake up tomorrow and get to work, keep getting better and hopefully be ready for ECACs."

For the Valiants, this was the final MAC Freedom contest for the program as they begin Skyline Conference play in 2019. There is still a chance for Manhattanville to see the pitch again this season as the squad is eligible to compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship. Please check back with GoValiants.com for more details as they become available.