PURCHASE, N.Y. – Postseason soccer returns to Manhattanville on Thursday night, as the top-seeded Valiants men's soccer team hosts No. 5 Yeshiva in the Skyline Semifinals matchup. After a down-to-the-wire regular season matchup, a spot in the Skyline Championship awaits the winner on Thursday's clash on GoValiants.com Field.
Men's Soccer Preview: No. 1 Manhattanville College vs No. 5 Yeshiva University | Skyline Conference Championship Semifinals | Thursday, 5 p.m. | Live Stats | Video
Last Time Out/How We Got Here
The Valiants have not taken to the pitch since the regular season finale on Oct. 25 when they last met Yeshiva. The 1-0 Manhattanville victory resulted in the Valiants securing the No. 1 seed. It was
Arjan Delija (Irvington, N.Y./Irvington) playing the role of hero, as the rookie's first career goal was the difference maker in the defensive battle.
Luis Granados (Pasadena, Calif./St. Francis) recorded three saves to preserve the shutout, his seventh of the season. In two career games against the Maccabees, Granados has allowed just one goal.
The offense for the Valiants has come from all over, as 17 different players have found the back of the net this season.
Michael Mezzina (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Morris Catholic) and
Kendall Davis (Atlanta, Georgia/Immaculata) have led the team with four goals each, while Mezzina also leads the team in total points (13) and assists (five). In net, it has been another stealer season by Granados who has allowed just 12 goals on the season to the tune of a 0.75 goals-against average. The junior keeper sports a 9-4-4 record on the year entering the postseason.
Following their loss to the Valiants, Yeshiva dropped down to the No. 5 seed, setting them up for an First Round matchup at No. 4 Mount Saint Mary College. In what was a back-and-forth affair, Yeshiva would advance to the semifinals with a 4-3 victory on Sunday. The Maccabees were led by a two goal performance by Lucas Baredes, while Ethan Fettaya and Josh Ziarno would each also record a tally.
While the Valiants have spread the ball around to generate their attack, Yeshiva has had a trio of 20 point scorers. Baredes leads the team with 25 points with 10 goals and five assists. Fettaya and Ziarno have also notched 20 points on the season, with Fettaya leading the team with eight assists on the year. Benjamin Brener has been the team's primary goalkeeper with a 7-2-1 record with a 0.95 goals-against average.
Team Leaders
Manhattanville
- Points: Mezzina (13), Davis (11), Blanco (8), Rabadi (8)
- Goals: Mezzina (4), Davis (4), Blanco (3), Rabadi (3), Rojas (3)
- Assists: Mezzina (5), Davis (3), Henderson (3)
- Goals Against Average: Granados (0.75)
- Save Percentage: Granados (.824)
Yeshiva
- Points: Baredes (25), Fettaya (20), Ziarno (20)
- Goals: Baredes (10), Ziarno (8), Fettaya (6)
- Assists: Fettaya (8), Baredes (5), Abittan (5)
- Goals Against Average: Brener (0.95)
- Save Percentage: Brener (.850)
History
- All-Time Record vs Yeshiva: 5-0-0
- Streak: Manhattanville W5
- Series Record at Manhattanville: 2-0-0
- Last Three Meetings:
- 10/25/22: Yeshiva 0, Manhattanville 1
- 10/7/21: Manhattanville 3, Yeshiva 1
- 9/22/19: Manhattanville 6, Yeshiva 2
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