GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Manhattanville College men's hockey team got into the win column for the first time in the new season on Saturday, earning a series split at Arcadia with a 7-3 victory. The Valiants improve to 1-1-0 on the season and in UCHC play.

After his two score performance in yesterday's opener, AJ Bella (Norwalk, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)) once again lit the lamp twice on Saturday. His two goal, one assist effort was matched by Hayden Taylor (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL)), as the senior forward notched his first three points of the season. Connor Boyce (St. Albans, Vt./Connecticut RoughRiders (EHL)), Elijah Devereaux (Webster, N.Y./Danbury Hatricks) and Nick Prestia (Niagara Falls, Ont./Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)) each scored once, while James Gregory (Darien, Conn./Darien High School) and Artem Mateichenko (Kharkov, Ukraine/NVK Dominanta) had three assists each to secure the win.

It was a wild first period with five goals scored in the opening 20 minutes. As he did yesterday, Bella got the party started 3:11 into the game, finishing an opportunity set up by Taylor and Josh Fletcher (Calgary, Alb./Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)). The lead would be short lived, as Fletcher was sent to the box for tripping 14 seconds later. Arcadia would quickly capitalize with the man advantage as Cam Parrott scored 18 ticks into the power play, evening the score at 1-1. The score remained stagnant until a hectic final 67 second of the period. Taylor reestablished the Valiant lead with a power play goal from Mateichenko and Gregory at 18:53. Then, with 22 seconds to go, Boyce struck with his first of the year off a Troy Crosson (Hatfield, Pa./New Jersey Rockets (NCDC)) assist. While the Valiants looked to have a two goal advantage in their possession heading into intermission, Michael Hertzberg fired a shot past Sebastian Woods (Limehouse, Ontario, Canada/Utica Comets) two seconds before the horn the send the game into break with the Valiants up 3-2.

The Valiants would score twice more in the second while holding the Knights scoreless to gain some insurance. Devereaux would score five minutes in for his first career tally, a score assisted by Mateichenko and Mitchell Watson (Calgary Alberta, Canada/Canmore Eagles (AJHL)). The Valiant power play would then strike again 16:13 into the period with Taylor scoring his second of the game from Bella and Gregory. Manhattanville's three goal advantage would carry into the final period.

Arcadia got one back to open up the third on a Brett Schenider unassisted goal, but the Manhattanville special teams were firing on all cylinders with two more power play goals to end the night. Bella notched his second tally 8:08 into the period with the man advantage from Gregory and Mateichenko before Prestia added a power play goal 1:31 later off an assist by Tristan Frese (Broomfield, CO/Don Bosco Prep). With the 7-3 advantage, the Valiants were able to drain the remaining time in regulation to notch their first win of the year.

In all, the Valiants went 4-for-7 on the power play, firing 11 shots with the man advantage. The penalty kill unit was solid for Manhattanville after surrendering the initial goal, ending the night 5-for-6 on kill opportunities.

Arcadia would hold a 40-33 faceoff advantage on the afternoon. Fletcher was the Valiants' top draw man, going 9-8 in the circle.

Woods made his first start in net, totaling 33 saves in his collegiate debut. The rookie made 17 stops in the scoreless second period, settling in after the two goal first.

Up Next
Conference  play continues next weekend as the Valiants are in Wilks-Barre for a two game series against Wilkes. Puck drop for Friday's contest is scheduled for 7:30 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