RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's hockey team got off to a hot start Friday night, Feb. 15, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-3 United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) victory on Senior Night over Neumann University at home at the Playland Ice Casino.
 
The Valiants (15-7-3, 11-4-3 UCHC) gained most of their steam early on from many of the graduating seniors as six of the seven players that factored in to the first three goals were fourth-year players. But in the end, it was freshman defenseman Kyle Miller's (Bristol, Conn./Trinity-Pawling) goal midway through the third period – assisted by a pair of seniors – that held up as the game-winner over the Knights (6-14-4, 5-9-4 UCHC).
 
The scoring began at 10:26 in the first when senior co-captain Casper Dyrssen (Stockholm, Sweden/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) broke through to put the Valiants up 1-0, assisted by classmates Nigel Slade (St. Catherines, Ont./Niagara Falls Canucks (GOJHL)) and Jeff Beck (Broomall, Pa./Philadelphia Junior Flyers (EHL)). The score remained 1-0 until just 1:25 into the second when the other Manhattanville senior co-captain Eric Berglun scored his seventh of the season, assisted by junior Kenny McLean (New Rochelle, N.Y./New York Bobcats (EHL)) and senior assistant captain Matt Lippa (Richmond Hill, Ont./Oakville Blades (OJHL)). Finally, senior Jeff Beck (Broomall, Pa./Philadelphia Junior Flyers (EHL)) put the Valiants up 3-0 at 15:53 in the second with a strong individual effort, scoring on the shorthanded opportunity unassisted. Manhattanville took that lead into the lockerroom with just 20 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Neumann finally got on the board at 2:40 into the third with an even strength tally. Nearly six minutes later, Miller got on the board with the first goal of his Manhattanville career at 8:30, assisted by Dyrssen and Slade – this ended up being the eventual game-winner. Down three with less than seven minutes remaining, the Knights began taking chances and pulled their netminder for the 6-on-5 advantage. The gamble worked out and they were able to trimmed the Valiants' lead to 4-2 at 13:29 in the third.
 
The Knights continued to take chances and again were able to get another one past Valiants' senior goalie Tyler Feaver (Whitby, Ont./Whitby Fury (OJHL)) with an extra attacker on the ice at 17:26 in the third to make it a one-goal game at 4-3. From that point forward, though, Manhattanville was able to maintain puck possession to close out the win, as Feaver only needed to stop one more shot to secure the victory.
 
Overall, Feaver made 34 stops on 37 shots and was key in the Valiant victory, while Knight netminder Mike Cosentino – who spent 4:26 on the bench in exchange for the extra attacker – stopped 21 of 25 Manhattanville shots. Neumann also had the majority of powerplay opportunities, going 2-for-6, while the Valiants only had two opportunities and were unable to convert on either.
 
Up next for the Valiants is a home UCHC playoff game Tuesday night, Feb. 19, at Playland. The seeding is to be determined, but Manhattanville can finish no higher than third and no lower than fourth.