PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's lacrosse team jumped out to a five-goal, 6-1 lead with 3:05 remaining in the first half, but had to come back in exciting fashion late in the fourth quarter to defeat St. Joseph's College-Long Island 8-7 Tuesday night, March 5, on the road.
 
The Valiants (3-0) have kicked off their 2019 campaign with three straight victories, all over future Skyline Conference foes, but their one-goal nail biter over the Golden Eagles (1-1) was their toughest contest so far.
 
Things started well for Manhattanville as the road team was the first to break through. Rookie Harrison Yoguez (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph (H.S.)) scored his fourth of the season, assisted by junior Will Duval (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay), with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter before SJC tied it up at 1-1 with 4:03 left. Junior Gianni Ciffone (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) ended the quarter with 10th score of the season at 2:58 and kicked off the second quarter with his 11th to put the Valiants up 3-1 with 8:52 until the half.
 
Rookie Matt LaBash (Stratford, Conn./St. Joseph (H.S.)) was next to score at 6:43, followed by junior Nick Delia (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) at 4:28. Ciffone closed the scoring for Manhattanville in the half at 3:05 and at 6-1, the Valiants looked to be cruising to another nice win. The Golden Eagles had other things to say, however, and scored their second of the game with 1:40 left in the first half.
 
St. Joseph's then went on a run in the third quarter and scored three goals to cut the Valiants lead to 6-5, before scoring the first two goals of the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the game at 7-6 with 6:58 remaining in regulation. 00:57 later, DeLia scored his second of the game and fifth of the season to tie the contest at 7-7. Then, with time winding down, the junior struck once again with 1:01 remaining to put Manhattanville up 8-7 and hold on for the victory.
 
Highlights:

• Ciffone finished with three goals and an assist and leads the Valiants with 16 points. He also had six ground balls against St. Joe's.
• Junior Jason Frezza (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Portledge) picked up his third win on the season and made eight saves on 15 shots.
• Senior Soya Goto (Rye, N.Y./Rye) had five ground balls and a caused turnover.
• Duval finished with three assists and four ground balls.

Manhattanville returns to action this Saturday, March 9, on the road in Annandale-On-Hudson, N.Y., when the Valiants face the Bard College Raptors at 12:00 p.m.