READING, Pa. – The Manhattanville College women's hockey team were back in action on Thursday afternoon in their first UCHC matchup of 2023 and dropped a 4-2 contest against the Alvernia Golden Wolves. With the loss, the Valiants fall to 7-6-0 on the overall season and 7-2-0 in conference play. 
 
The Golden Wolves got on the board early in the first period off a Julia Franklin goal, assisted by Kathryn Palmer. The Valiants would be held scoreless as Alvernia's goalie Julia Beaven would tally 11 total saves in the first 20 minutes. 
 
Less than two minutes into the second period, the Golden Wolves' Mackenzie Jackson would assist on an Abby Reisinger goal to add another to make it a 2-0 start for Alvernia. Manhattanville would then quickly respond in the man advantage as Holly Meredith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Vermont Academy) would light the lamp in the fourth minute off a Charlotte Stanwood (West Vancouver, B.C./Penticton Secondary) assist. In the 9^th minute, Gabrielle Cox (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane High School) would tally another for the Valiants, her 15^th goal of the season. 
 
The final 20 minutes would start tied at 2-2. Both teams showing their strengths on the offensive and defensive ice. Franklin would score her second goal of the game for Alvernia to put the Golden Wolves up with only 12 minutes remaining in regulation. Palmer and Sydney Bradley would notch an assist each. The defense would hold as the Valiants were unable to respond. Palmer would then record an unassisted goal with four seconds remaining to secure the 4-2 Golden Wolves win. 
 
Cox totaled 15 shots, while Morgan Miller (St. Augustine, Fla./Gilmour Academy) added six on the day. Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) recorded 12 saves through the 60 minutes, as the defense helped out and totaled six blocks. 
 
It was an even advantage in the faceoff circle as Manhattanville won 29 and Alvernia won 28 of the 57 overall draws on the afternoon. Miller led the Valiants with 15 draws, while Grace Felicio (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) and Annie Niedermier (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) won five each and Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy) tallied four. 
 
Manhattanville went 1-for-4 on the power play, firing 20 shots overall. On the other end, the Valiants went 1-for-1 on the penalty kill holding Alvernia to only five shots. 
 
The two teams will face off tomorrow in the series finale, as the Valiants and Golden Wolves drop the puck at 7 p.m.