WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Manhattanville College men's ice hockey team played evenly all night long with United College Hockey Conference (UCHC) foe Wilkes University Friday night, Dec. 6, keeping even on shots (27-27) throughout, but were unable to conquer the hosting Colonels and fell to the home squad by a score of 7-5.
 
The Valiants (4-6-1, 2-4 UCHC) jumped out quickly to a 2-0 lead in the first period of play, including an early goal from senior co-captain Ryan Jackson (Montreal, Que./Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL)) – his first of the season – on the powerplay less the 4:00 after puck-drop. Reigning UCHC Rookie of the Week Noah Bradley (Lancaster, Pa./Philadelphia Revolution (EHL)) was next to notch a tally at 12:10 into the first to put Manhattanville up by two following 20 minutes of play against Wilkes (8-2, 6-0 UCHC). Bradley finished the night with three points, adding a pair of assists, and now has seven points (2G, 5A) on the season.
 
Unfortunately, the Colonels were able to even it up at 2-2 just past the midway point of the second with goals from former Valiant Taylor Bommarito (4:18) and Ryan Galvin (11:13). Another Manhattanville rookie, who is off to a strong start in his initial campaign with the Crimson and White, was next to make in impact as Glynn Robitaille (Northville, Mich./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) scored at 15:47 to put the road squad ahead 3-2 – he now has four goals on the year, the most of any Valiant freshman. Wilkes scored twice more, though, and headed into the second intermission up by one at 4-3.
 
Trailing 6-3 midway through the third, the Valiants were able to muster a bit more offense to climb back once again. Sophomore Niko Happo (Kauniainen, Finland/Syracuse Stars/New Jersey Hitmen (NCDC)), who entered the night leading the team in assists with seven, notched his first goal of the season to make it 6-4 with just over 7:00 remaining in regulation. Manhattanville pulled junior netminder Mac Vail (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (EHL)) minutes later to try and get within one, but the Colonels scored on the empty net to make it 7-4. The Crimson and White did manage another powerplay goal before the horn sounded, however, as sophomore assistant captain Alex Rowella (Ridgefield, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)) scored his sixth of the season – fourth on the man-advantage – to make it 7-5 with 00:26 to go. Bradley and fellow rookie Nick Prestia (Niagara Falls, Ont./Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)) notched the assists on the play. Rowella finished the night with two points, having assisted on Jackson's game-opening score early in the first.
 
Manhattanville remains in Pennsylvania overnight and resumes UCHC play tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, Dec. 7, at 4:00 p.m. when the Valiants face King's College at the Revolution Ice Center in Pittston, Pa. The Crimson and White have faced the Monarchs four times heading into tomorrow, winning all of them by a combined score of 29-5.