MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Manhattanville College women's hockey team fired 21 shots on net on Saturday but were unable to solve Wesleyan goaltender Rei Halloran as the Valiants were defeated 2-0 on the road to begin the weekend. The non-conference loss drops Manhattanville's record on the season to 6-2-0.

It was the first time this season that the Valiants were held without a goal as the senior goalie Halloran had an answer to every offensive chance that the Manhattanville attack generated. The Valiants outshot the Cardinals 9-5 in the opening period, aided by a power play opportunity that yielded a pair of shots on net, but nothing was able to sneak past the Wesleyan netminder to hold the affair scoreless into the second period. The Cardinals would get on the board as part of a 14 shot period at 8:36 into the frame as Casey Messina finished a setup from Sam DeLeo and Shannon Burke to fire a puck past Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) to put the home team up 1-0.

While Gerardi made 13 saves in the period to keep the deficit at one, the Valiants were able to generate just six shots in the second period. The total was duplicated over the final 20 minutes, while the Cardinals netted an insurance tally on their first shot of the third on a Kenna Rekoske goal. All six Valiant shots on net over the final 20 minutes of play were successfully snuffed out by Halloran as the goalie notched her third-straight shutout.

The Valiants had four skaters finish with three shots apiece to lead the team. Gabrielle Cox (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane High School), Taylor Willoughby (Camrose, Alberta, Canada/John Maland), Annie Niedermier (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) and Morgan Miller (St. Augustine, Fla./Gilmour Academy) each fired three pucks on net but Halloran was up to task to turn each of them away.

Niedermier let the Valiants in the faceoff circle, winning 12 of her 16 draws. The sophomore also blocked two shots, matching Grace Felicio (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) for the team lead on the day. Miller added nine faceoff wins on the dot.

Gerardi would finish with 26 total saves, led by her 13 in the second period. The senior now sports a 4-2-0 record with a .970 save percentage and a 0.67 goals-against average on the year.

While the Valiants were unsuccessful in their lone power play opportunity, the Manhattanville penalty kill unit successfully held Wesleyan off the board during the Cardinals' two power play chances. Through eight games, Manhattanville has allowed just two power play goals over 29 opportunities, sporting a .931 kill rate.

Up Next
The Valiants look to put an end to their two game skid when they return home tomorrow to wrap up a three game non-conference slate. Manhattanville hosts Amherst College at 3 p.m.

VALIANTS on SOCIAL MEDIA For the latest on Manhattanville Athletics, follow the Valiants via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.  #WeAreValiant #GoValiants