PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College women's lacrosse team outscored Alvernia University by seven goals over the final 30 minutes to open up a close contest and secure a 19-9 victory in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at GoValiants.com Field.
 
Freshman Melissa O'Mara (Huntington, N.Y./St. Anthony's) had another big game for Manhattanville (3-4), leading all players with seven goals, 12 draw controls, seven ground balls and five caused turnovers. She was matched with seven points by senior Carly Weiss (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac), who scored four times with three assists, while classmates Jenna Nance (Glendale, Calif./Glendale) and Christina Leva (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) both had three goals apiece as well.
 
The Valiants scored the first three goals of the game to take an early lead, beginning with goals from O'Mara and Weiss as well as a nifty move for a goal from sophomore Lexy DeLeo (Meriden, Conn./Orville H. Platt). Alvernia got back within one goal on three occasions, the last coming on Rachel Judge's second goal of the afternoon that made the score 6-5 with 4:31 left.
 
But Manhattanville closed the half with the final two goals, coming from freshman Rosie DeBellis (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) and O'Mara for the fourth time to give the home team an 8-5 lead at the break. Junior Alex Breen (South Windsor, Conn./Kingswood Oxford School) made four saves on nine shots over the opening 30 minutes.
 
The Valiants started the second half on a 4-1 run to open up a 12-6 lead with 23:52 remaining, but the Golden Wolves made one last run to get back within four at 13-9 after a Brittany Defibaugh score with 16:02 left. Manhattanville then shut the door with the final six goals of the game, including two each from O'Mara and Leva, to secure the victory.
 
Sophomore Bella Marchiselli (Williston Park, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy Academy) made her first appearance since the season opener in the second half, turning aside seven of the 11 on-target shots she faced over the final 30 minutes. Manhattanville finished the afternoon with a 47-27 edge in shots.
 
The Valiants will return to GoValiants.com Field on Friday, when the team hosts Western Connecticut State University beginning at noon.