COLMAR, Pa. – The Manhattanville College men's hockey team led early and tied the game up in the third, but a goal in the closing seconds of regulation felled the Valiants in their season-opener at Arcadia. With a 5-3 loss, Manhattanville begins the year 0-1-0 in both overall and UCHC play.

The Valiants received a two goal effort from junior AJ Bella (Norwalk, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)), while Troy Crosson (Hatfield, Pa./New Jersey Rockets (NCDC)) accounted for the other Manhattanville tally with his first of his senior campaign.

Bella would strike first 6:53 into the contest, finishing an assist from James Gregory (Darien, Conn./Darien High School) to put the Valiants ahead. The 1-0 lead would carry into the second period, as Tyler Roy (Brighton, MI/Brighton High School) successfully turned away all 13 shots on goal he saw in the opening 20 minute in the Valiant cage. Jeb Lindy made 11 first period saves to hold Arcadia's deficit to just the lone goal.

Manhattanville would double the lead 7:25 into the second as Crosson scored off a Noah Bradley (Lancaster, Pa./Philadelphia Revolution (EHL)) assist. The Knights would ultimately get on the board 10:15 into the period off a Dylan Florit goal before Kyle Peters evened up the score for the home team with under five minutes to go in the period.

Tied 2-2 four minutes into the third, Arcadia was able to claim their first lead of the night on Aaron Hamel's unassisted score. Manhattanville remained resilient facing their first deficit of the season, being able to capitalize on a power play opportunity midway through the period. With the man advantage, Bella was able to bury a shot set up by assists from Gregory and Mason Emoff (Collingwood, Ont./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL), Pembroke Lumberkings (CCHL)) to tie the game at 3-3.

The contest appeared destined for overtime, but with just 11 seconds to go before the end of regulation, James Spaargaren was able to beat Roy with a shot that put Arcadia back on top. The Valiants emptied the net following the ensuing faceoff in a last-chance effort with an extra skater in the final ten seconds, but Spaargaren was able to find the empty net for a closing insurance tally to end the night.

Roy ended the night with 28 total saves in net for the Valiants. Despite not scoring, both Lane Paddison (100 Mile House, Canada/Canmore Eagles (AJHL)) and Dylan Pollak (New Fairfield, Conn./South Kent School) led the Valiants on the night with five shots apiece.

Arcadia went 37-28 in the faceoff circle. Josh Fletcher (Calgary, Alb./Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)) won a team-high nine draws for the Valiants. On special teams, the Valiants penalty kill opened the season with a perfect 3-for-3 showing after holding Arcadia to just four shots on three first period man advantages. The Valiants went 1-ofr-6 on their own power play opportunities, firing 14 shots.

Up Next
The Valiants will aim for a series split tomorrow, once again squaring off with Arcadia at 3:30 p.m.

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