PURCHASE, N.Y. -- A first half goal off the boot of
Jackson Ayres (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Prep) was all that was needed in a defensive battle on Wednesday evening as the Manhattanville College men's soccer team defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by a final of 1-0. The home turf win moves the Valiants to 2-0-1 on the season.
Looking to avenge last season's 6-1 loss to the Engineers, the Valiants successfully limited RPI's offensive opportunities. The visiting Engineers outshot Manhattanville 11-7, but with each team limited to just three shots on net, good looks came at a premium.
The first two offensive chances of the night would be generated by Manhattanville, as
Sebastian Testa (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) had a header in the fifth minute that was able to be turned away by RPI netminder Luke Brezak. Ten minutes later, the Valiants would capitalize on their chance in the RPI zone.
Michael Mezzina (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Morris Catholic) took a corner kick and was able to find Ayres open on the feed. The junior fired off a quick shot that was able to beat Brezak as the Valiants took the 1-0 advantage.
That would be where the score remained over the ensuing 75 minutes as defensive play took over. The Engineers were held to just two shots in the first half, neither of which were on target. RPI would come out with a more aggressive game plan in the second with nine shot attempts.
Luis Granados (Pasadena, Calif./St. Francis) was up to the task in net for the Valiants, making his first three saves of the year to preserve the complete game clean sheet.
Corner kicks were even in the contest at four apiece.
Jostyn Blanco (Norwalk, CT/Brien Mcmahon High School) accounted for Manhattanville's other shot on goal, logging a shot that was turned away in the second half.
Up Next
The Valiants are on the road for the first time this year in a week from tonight. Manhattanville travels to Massachusetts to take on Amherst College at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14.
