GENEVA, N.Y. — The Manhattanville College field hockey team dropped the opening game of the William Smith Classic Saturday, Sept. 15, by a score of 3-1 to the hosting Herons.

The Valiants (1-4) played a tight defensive game against William Smith College (2-4) as sophomore goalkeeper Elaina Nacinovich (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) stopped 11 of the Herons 14 shots on net. Manhattanville did only manage three shots on net, four overall, but senior forward Emily Antinozzi (Rye, N.Y./Rye) scored her second goal of the season off a pass from fellow forward junior Ameerah Thomas (Norfolk, Va./Granby) from the top of the circle. The would be the only score of the game for the Valiants.

Following Antinozzi's goal, the lead was cut to 2-1, but five minutes later William Smith would answer. The Herons' Sophie Craig would score her second goal of the game following an initial save by Nacinovich, putting in the rebound to push the lead back to two. That would be the last goal of the day as the Manhattanville was unable to answer.

The Valiants are right back at it tomorrow morning in the second game of the William Smith Classic, when they take on Saint Lawrence University in Geneva, N.Y. at 10:30 a.m.