RYE, N.Y. -- The Manhattanville College women's hockey team won its third-straight game after defeating United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) opponent Neumann University by a score of 5-1, Friday, Nov. 15. A balanced Valiants offense led the way as five different players tallied two points in the home win.
Manhattanville (3-1-1, 3-0 UCHC) jumped out to an early lead in the first and was able to control the game from that point on. The team's lone first period goal came from junior forward Ashley DeFusco (Cranston, R.I./La Salle Academy) who made a move around the opposing goaltender to take the lead midway through the period. The period was slowed down by a number of penalties, eight in total, but the Valiants were able to carry their lead into the first intermission.
The Crimson and White began the second period slowly, but finally were able to extend their lead when senior forward Amanda Sabia (Freehold, N.J./The Gunnery) buried a shot into the back of the net to make the score 2-0. That goal opened up scoring in the game and Neumann (3-2, 2-1 UCHC) responded with a goal of their own just two minutes later to cut the Manhattanville lead to one goal. The Valiants quickly responded and senior defender Ali Howard (Rye, N.Y./Rye) extended the lead to two once again with a goal of her own just a minute and a half later. The score remained 3-1 until the end of the second.
The third period was all Manhattanville. They scored two more times to ice the game and secure an impressive 5-1 win over a conference opponent. Goals in the third came from junior forward Taylor Ham (Saugerties, N.Y./Millbrook School) as well as Sabia who tallied her second of the game. Senior goalie Taylor Elias (Winnipeg, Man./Canadian International Hockey Academy) remains undefeated so far this season and she made 22 saves on 23 shots in the win.
The Valiants hit the road for the first time this season in their next matchup. They will take on non-conference opponent Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 P.M.
