ALBANY, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's soccer team knocked off The Sage Colleges Gators 1-0 in a physical 2018 season opener Friday afternoon, Aug. 31, at the Albany College of Pharmacy Athletic Facility in Albany, N.Y.

Manhattanville (1-0) started eight freshmen, including goalkeeper Charles Roberts (Brown Mills, N.J./Pemberton Township), who posted a nine-save clean sheet in his first collegiate game. The Valiants pressed the action off the opening kickoff, taking three shots and forcing two saves from Sage goalkeeper Mike Chiaravallori in the first 4:32.

In the 16th minute, Manhattanville broke through when freshman Cody LaCava (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) knocked home a shot from just outside the six-yard box off a beautiful long ball down the far side from sophomore Marius Nicolaysen (Oslo, Norway/Kongshavn VGS). The final 29 minutes of the half turned into a defensive battle as the two sides combined for just seven total shots, two of them on goal.

LaCava's strike held up as the game-winner, as Roberts made seven second-half saves, while the Valiants maintained control in their offensive zone down the stretch, holding the Gators (0-1) without a shot after the 82nd minute.

Manhattanville returns to action Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 5, for a 4:00 p.m. road match against Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.