RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's ice hockey team hung tough with No. 15 Williams College Friday afternoon, Jan. 11, in a 6-3 home loss at the Playland Ice Casino.

Senior defenseman Oscar Arfelt (Stockholm, Sweden/Connecticut Oilers (EHL)) was the driving force for the Valiants (7-5-2), as the blueliner scored a pair of goals and assisted on the other against the Ephs (8-4-1). The game itself was extremely eventful, with nine combined goals, five of which came on the powerplay, and an astounding 17 combined penalties – including 12 in the second period alone.

Overall, Manhattanville controlled the majority of offensive play and outshot Williams 41-22. Unfortunately, the Ephs were able to score six goals – three times on the powerplay – compared the Valiants' three goals – two of which came on the powerplay.

After the first period, Manhattanville trailed 2-0 and then Williams got another quick one to start the second and take a 3-0 lead. Fortunately, the puck found Arfelt's stick at the point as the Valiants' had a 5-on-3 powerplay. The senior ripped one from the blueline to put Manhattanville on the board.

The third period started similarly to the second, with the Ephs scoring early and taking another three-goal lead at 4-1 just 33 seconds in. But, after four straight powerplay goals of the five thus far, Arfelt ripped another shot from the point with both teams at full strength and found the back of the net for his second of the game and third of the season. Manhattanville now trailed 4-2 and were showing signs of life with 16:42 remaining in regulation.

Later in the period, the Valiants went on another powerplay opportunity – their seventh and final of the game – and once again it was Arfelt at the point. This time, his shot from the blueline was redirected in front of the net and snuck past Williams' goalie Michael Pinios – the Ephs' netminder made 38 saves on the day – and junior forward Kenny McLean (New Rochelle, N.Y./New York Bobcats (EHL)) was credited with the powerplay goal to bring the Valiants within one at 4-3 with 5:33 remaining. The Ephs recovered and scored again at 17:35 for the game's third even-strength goal, and then got one more on the empty net with 1:05 left to seal it at 6-3.

Highlights:
- Senior assistant captain Matt Lippa (Richmond Hill, Ont./Oakville Blades (OJHL)) finished with a pair of assists and leads the Valiants with 22 points on the season.
- McLean and seniors Marco Ferraro (Toronto, Ont./St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHL)) and co-captain Eric Berglund (Sollentuna, Sweden/Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL)) each has one assist as well. McLean and Berglund led Manhattanville with six shots apiece.
- Senior centericemen Nigel Slade (St. Catherines, Ont./Niagara Falls Canucks (GOJHL)) and Cory Anderson (Bakersfield, Calif./Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)) led the Valiants at the faceoff dot. Slade won 11-of-22, while Anderson won 11-of-20.

The Valiants will take a day before returning to their home ice Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13. They will host Nichols College at Playland, with puckdrop scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Bison are 8-6-1 on the season and have won two straight, most recently at the University of Southern Maine this past Tuesday, Jan. 8, by a score of 5-1.