RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's ice hockey team suffered a tough 7-2 loss in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play Saturday afternoon, Nov. 9, at home to Nazareth College. The Golden Flyers scored a pair of empty netters late to seal it.
 
Following a strong first weekend, the Valiants (1-2-1, 0-2 UCHC) have now dropped two straight, both in conference play, the latest being to Nazareth (2-1, 2-0 UCHC). Manhattanville entered the weekend ranked No. 10 in the most recent USCHO (United States College Hockey Online) Division III Top 15 poll, but the Golden Flyers got the better of them on this night.
 
Nazareth scored twice in the first period to take a 2-0 lead, before scoring two more in the second to go ahead 4-0. Sophomore assistant captain Alex Rowella (Ridgefield, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)) finally got Manhattanville on the board during a powerplay opportunity with less than a minute left before the second intermission. Senior assistant captain Ken McLean (New Rochelle, N.Y./New York Bobcats (EHL)) brought more life into the Valiants with a quick goal in the first minute of the third period as well to make it 4-2. Sophomore Niko Happo (Kauniainen, Finland/Syracuse Stars/New Jersey Hitmen (NCDC)) assisted on both goals.
 
Despite that, though, the Golden Flyers scored just over 6:30 into the period to make it 5-2. The Valiants pulled junior netminder Mac Vail (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (EHL)) – who finished the night with 16 saves in his second start of the season – with 4:32 remaining, but were unable to make anything from having an extra skater on. Nazareth scored a couple more empty-netters to clinch the win at 7-2.
 
Manhattanville returns to the ice next weekend for a two-game road trip within UCHC play. The Valiants first face Lebanon Valley College Friday night, Nov. 15, at 7:00 p.m. in Hershey, Pa., followed by a trip up to Horseheads, N.Y., for a 7:00 p.m. matchup with Elmira College on Saturday, Nov. 16.