HENNIKER, N.H. – The first season in Manhattanville College women's rugby history added a new chapter to the historic year on Saturday as the Valiants captured the team's first-ever win. Manhattanville took two of three matches against New England College to avenge the earlier season home loss to the Pilgrims and improve to 1-3 in their inaugural season.

Game One: Manhattanville 17, NEC 12
The Valiants erased a pair of first-half deficits to take the first game of the afternoon. New England struck first, as Ari Hamilton recorded a try for the Pilgrims just 50 seconds into the contest to put the home team up 5-0. While defense took control for a majority of the remainder of the half, Kasey Molito (Whitman, MA/Whitman-Hanson Regional) would put the Valiants on the board with 1:33 remaining with her first try of the affair to knot the game up at 5-5. The Pilgrims would respond quickly, converting a penalty try a minute later to give NEC a 12-5 lead at the half.

Manhattanville began the comeback with 2:16 remaining in the game, as Molito struck again with her second try to pull the Valiants within two. The Manhattanville defense would hang tough, keeping the Pilgrims out of the try zone and regaining possession for the Valiants. With time winding down, Drew Rose Marines (New York, NY/Frank McCourt HS) came through with her first try of the season with nine seconds left on the clock to give the Valiants the lead. Molito would add a successful conversion for good measure as Manhattanville took the opener, 17-12.

Game Two: Manhattanville 0, NEC 5
Defense had the upper hand in the second match of the day, with only one try being scored between the two teams. After a scoreless first half and another four and a half shutout minutes into the second, New England finally broke through the stalemate on a Bree Vidal try. While the NEC conversion attempt was unsuccessful, the Pilgrims were able to keep the Valiants out of the try zone for the remainder of the half to even up the score at a match apiece.

Game Three: Manhattanville 12, NEC 5
In the decisive third match, defenses continued to take charge for the first half. The Valiants would score the contest's first points with five seconds remaining in the period, as Molito recorded her third try of the day. After the halftime break, New England would score the equalizer 44 seconds in on a try by Vidal. Tied at 5-5, Nicole Aliperti (Queens, NY/Archbishop Molloy HS) would find her way into the try zone for her first score of the season with three minutes remaining. Molito was successful on the conversion try to put the Vals ahead by seven, while the Manhattanville defense kept the Pilgrims out of the try zone to run out the clock and secure the win.

Up Next
The Valiants are back at it next weekend for a road match at Castleton on Sunday at 5 p.m.