RUTLAND, VT – Senior Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Northwood School) recorded her second multi-goal game of the season and junior goalie Taylor Elias (Winnipeg, Man./Canadian International Hockey Academy) stopped 19 of 20 shots in just her second start of the year as the Manhattanville College women's hockey team posted a 2-1 victory over the host Castleton University Spartans in the WSYB/Catamount Radio Invitational Sunday, Jan. 6.

After recording just one assist over her previous three games, Mensi scored both goals for Manhattanville (8-2-2) while Elias posted a .950 save percentage, allowing just one power play goal, while the Valiants killed off six of seven man-advantage opportunities for Castleton (4-9-2).

With a little more than four minutes gone in the opening period, Mensi netted her eighth goal of the season off assists from sophomore Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) and classmate Ellis Smith (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Junior Purple Eagles (WNYAHL)). Elias and Castleton goalie Rylie Willis took command of the game from there, stopping 30 straight shots over the next 2+ periods, with Mensi's second score at 7:47 of the third period breaking the goal drought.

Samantha Munroe spoiled Elias' shutout just 69 seconds later, just 12 seconds after Castleton went on its fifth power play of the afternoon. Down the stretch, both Elias and a slew of Manhattanville skaters came up big, with Elias recording six saves and freshman Laney Nash (Edmonds, Wash./Washington Wild (PNAHA)), junior Amanda Sabia (Freehold, N.J./The Gunnery), junior Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alta./Ontario Hockey Academy), freshman Holly Meredith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Vermont Academy) and Smith all blocking at least one shot over the final eight minutes.

The Valiants will resume United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play on Tuesday on the road against the Utica College Pioneers. Their two-game series begins Tuesday, Jan. 8 with a 7 p.m. puck drop.