PURCHASE, N.Y. — The Manhattanville College field hockey team dropped a 3-2 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom match to the Wilkes University Colonels Saturday, Sept. 29, in the team's 2018 home opener from GoValiants.com Field.

Sophomore Arnise King (Wilmington, Del./Concord) and junior Robin Boot (Bedum, Netherlands/H.N. Werkman College) each scored 60 seconds apart for Manhattanville, who tied the match after an early 2-0 deficit, but Wilkes tallied the eventual game-winner early in the second half.

After Manhattanville (2-7, 0-2 MACF)) sophomore goalkeeper Elaina Nacinovich (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) and Wilkes (6-4, 2-0 MACF) goalkeeper Dallas Kendra combined for four saves in the first 6:02, the Colonels' Lauren Baldwin scored directly off a penalty corner taken by Haley Gayoski at 7:16. Just under nine minutes later, at 16:13 of the half, Cheyenne Mazzocca utilized some speed and ball control to create and score on an open cage opportunity for a 2-0 Wilkes advantage.

With just under six minutes left in the half, sophomore forward Lexi Crites (Middleboro, Mass./Kents Hill School) took a shot from the right side that Kendra got a pad on, but the ball rolled over to King, who notched her first collegiate goal. Exactly one minute later, after intercepting a pass deep in the Wilkes zone, Boot completed an outstanding individual effort, dribbling around the defense and beating Kendra glove-side to tie the match. Boot's goal was the final Manhattanville shot of the game.

At 43:45 of the second half, off Wilkes' third penalty corner of the afternoon, Lauren Shiplett took Zoe Stepanski's pass and beat Nacinovich, putting Wilkes back in front. The Valiants, who finished with 19 total shots and 10 on goal — their second-highest total of the season for both — managed three additional shots on goal down the stretch. Senior Emily Antinozzi (Rye, N.Y./Rye) had an opportunity with 7:27 to play, but Kendra sprawled to stop the Valiant forward from what would have been an open cage opportunity.

The Valiants are back in action against the Albertus Magnus College Falcons Thursday, Oct. 4, at 4:30 p.m. Previously scheduled for September 6, the Valiants original home opener was called due to lightning.