PORTLAND, Maine — The Manhattanville College field hockey program kicked off it's season on the road against the University of Southern Maine in the Southern Maine Invitational today, Friday, Aug. 30. The Valiants came out on top 2-1, earning their first win of the season. The two programs have gone head to head every season since 2013 and this is Manhattanville's first win in the series since 2015. 
 
The Valiants (1-0) started the season by defending two corners within the first six minutes. Sophomore Zoe Fillebrown (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) got her first save of the year defending a shot from Maggie Redmans of Southern Maine (0-1). The Huskies attempted an offensive drive towards the end of the first quarter but a second block from Fillebrown and a defensive save by senior Maryjane Johnson (Newington, Conn./Newington) ended the quarter tied 0-0.
 
Kicking off the second quarter, the Valiants were given two early corner opportunities. Freshman Ava Panzer (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) took both corners, taking a shot on one and senior Ameerah Thomas (Norfolk, Va./Granby) taking the other. Both were saved by USM's Lindsay Pych. Following a missed opportunity, Panzar got an additional shot off and scored the first goal of the 2019 season and her Manhattanville career.
 
Coming out of the locker rooms both teams played strong defense as Fillebrown and Pych traded off saves, both not letting anything go by in the third quarter. Panzar stepped up to take another corner in the fourth and assisted on the winning goal, which was put away by Thomas. Manhattanville held the lead 2-0 prior to a penalty stroke taken by the Huskie's Dorina Sirois. Fillebrown walked away with five saves as Manhattanville outshot Southern Maine on goal 13-6.   
 
The Valiants will play their final game of the Southern Maine Invitational against Plymouth State University tomorrow, Saturday Aug. 31, at 1:00 p.m.