PURSHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College field hockey team celebrated senior day and a victorious win on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Valiants topped New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) opponent Becker College 6-1, improving their overall record to 13-3 and 5-0 in the conference.
 
The team honored their four graduating seniors and all of the hard work and dedication they have put into the program over the years. The backline of the defense senior Maryjane Johnson (Newington, Conn./Newington), both midfielders senior Maisey Kettlewood (Nottingham, N.H./Dover) and senior Robin Boot (Bedum, Netherlands/H.N. Werkman College), as well as NECC 2019 season point leader, senior Ameerah Thomas (Norfolk, Va./Granby) were honored prior to the starting of today's game.
 
Only three shots were taken in the first half, two were sent from the Valaints (13-3, 5-0) and Johnson was able to sweep away a drive attempt sent from the Hawks (6-9,1-3). In the second quarter, Becker's Emily Iacovelli had a break away opportunity, but junior Isela Casillas (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake) stepped up and denied the Hawks chance. Minutes later junior Arnise King (Wilmington, Del./Concord) found junior Lexi Crites (Middleboro, Mass./Kents Hill School) open on the post, Crites shot the ball when Lauren Niemann made a defensive save for Becker.
 
Redeeming her last assist attempt, King passed the ball to Thomas who reverse swept her shot into the goal. Five minutes later, Boot ripped a drive to Beckers Baileigh Griese's pads, when Kettlewood grabbed the rebound, passed it to Thomas who scored her second goal of the day. Moments later, Crites passed a corner opportunity to Kettlewood who then passed it off to Thomas. Thomas drove the ball to the right post where freshman Ava Panzer (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) was able to deflect the ball past the Hawks.
 
Becker had a breakaway chance in the third when Iacovelli ran it down the field, Casillas was there once again to redirect the ball in the Valiants favor. In the final quarter, Thomas took a shot that was saved by Griese. Boot ran up, got the rebound and scored the fourth goal of the day. Two minutes later, Thomas scored a hat trick after she was assisted by two fellow seniors, Kettlewood and Boot.
 
Even though the Valiants had a 5-0 lead, Becker did not step down. In the final minutes of the game, Iacovelli passed the ball to Katherine Bernier who found the back of the net. Responding to the Hawks goal, Boot, intercepted the ball at the top of the circle, spun around her defender and drove a shot on net. Boot scored the final goal of the game, totaling five point for her on the day.
 
Many Valiants participated in the team win, Kettlewood ended with three assists, Panzer tallied one goal, King had one assists and sophomore Zoe Fillebrown (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) had one save. Thomas acquired seven points in the game, totaling 36 this season. Thomas is now the NECC leader in points and she is tied for fifth in the Manhattanville All-Time Single Season Points record.
 
The Valiants will travel this weekend to take on their final two opponents in the NECC.  They will face New England College Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:00 p.m. and Husson University on Sunday, Oct. 27.