PURCHASE, N.Y. -- With a thin roster and a tied game late, the Manhattanville College women's soccer team earned a corner opportunity in the 86th minute. The initial attempt was stifled, but sophomore Natalie Pelaez (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) was able get a shot attempt to trickle through the SUNY New Paltz backline. Seconds later, fellow sophomore Amaya Gonzalez (Buena Park, Calif./Western) was able to put the ball past the Hawks' keeper and secure the 2-1 victory for the Valiants Saturday afternoon, Sept. 14, at GoValiants.com Field.

Gonzalez scored both goals on the day for Manhattanville (2-3) and now has three for the season. Her first tally came early in the second half -- following a scoreless first -- when sophomore Ashley Hayes (Springfield, Ore./Thurston) lined up for a free kick following a New Paltz (1-3-1) foul. The defender launched a pass to the front of Hawks' net from 40 yards out and Gonzalez was able to get her head on it and put it past the New Paltz keeper to put the Valiants up 1-0 at the time.

Just minutes later, however, the Hawks' Katie Buquicchio received a cross from the left corner off the foot of Alex Wild. The pass dribbled by the Valiants' backline, as well as sophomore keeper Alexa Pyatsky (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), and Buquicchio put the ball in the back of the open net to tie it up in the 54th minute. New Paltz possessed the ball for the majority of the second half from that point on and had several good opportunities. However, the next true scoring chance came from Manhattanville sophomore Brigid Sullivan (Vienna, Va./Paul VI Catholic) in the 78th minute. Following a possession drought for her squad, the Valiant midfielder stole the ball and broke through the New Paltz defense for a pristine breakaway opportunity. The game remained tied 1-1 though as Hawks keeper Megan Tornatore made a brilliant diving save with an outstretched hand to the right to deny Sullivan's quality attempt.

Thanks to Gonzalez' goal in the 86th minute, however, Manhattanville was able to walk away as the victor.

Highlights:

• Pyatsky started the second half and came away with the win, making two stops on three attempts. Fellow sophomore keeper Steph Shalhoub (Yorktown, N.Y./Lakeland) got the start -- her second straight -- and made three saves in the first 45:00.
• Junior Ashley Pacheco (Throggs Neck, N.Y./Pelham Prep) was all over the field throughout the contest. She attempted three shots, landing one on net.
• The Valiants outdid New Paltz in shots on goal, 7-6. The Hawks earned the corner advantage, 8-5.
• Prior to today's victory, Manhattanville had lost four of the last five contests against New Paltz, as well as one scoreless tie in 2016.

The Crimson and White return to the pitch for their second of four consecutive home matches at GoValiants.com Field. They will host former Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom foe Fairleigh Dicksinon University-Florham in Purchase on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff. Manhattanville is looking to defeat the Devils for the first time since a 2-0 home win back in 2015.