PURCHASE, N.Y. – Back at home for the first time in two and a half weeks, the Manhattanville College men's lacrosse team was bested by Drew on Wednesday evening by a final of 22-11. With the loss, the Valiants drop to .500 on the season with a record of 2-2.

It was a great performance offensively by Nick Cornelia (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) on the Valiants, who recorded his second seven-goal game of the young season. Unfortunately for Manhattanville, Drew had their own seven-tally scorer on the field in Ian Curley to match the attacking effort by Cornelia. Ranger hat tricks from Mike DeMayo, Luke Bruther and Craig Wilkie were too much for the Valiants to fight back from as they would trail for a majority of the contest.

Drew scored 29 seconds into the game off a shot by Alex Higgins. The Valiants evened up the score just under four and a half minutes in on a Drew Palladino (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) goal that was assisted by Sean Larkin (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains). Manhattanville was primed to build off the goal as the Rangers were assessed a pair of penalties to give the Valiants extra men. However, Curley would weave through the Manhattanville defense and score shorthanded to put Drew back in front. The Rangers would score two more times in the following 1:45 to go ahead 4-1. Tyler Berch (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) would account for the final goal of the quarter, scoring off an assist from Cornelia with 2:03 left, to pull the Valiants back within two.

The Rangers took firm control of the contest in the second quarter, scoring eight times while holding the Valiants scoreless. DeMayo recorded a hat trick just in the quarter, accounting for three of the visitors' goals in the second. The Valiants, meanwhile, were held to just two shots on target as Drew ran out to a 12-2 advantage through the opening 30 minutes.

Cornelia's scoring eruption all occurred in the second half, starting 26 seconds into the third period with an unassisted goal. Drew would score the next three goals from Brett Spafford, Wilkie, and Curley to further their lead to 15-3 with 12:08 remaining in the quarter. Cornelia netted the next two goals for the Vals, scoring another unassisted tally at 7:46 before netting a man-up goal from Berch with 4:37 remaining. Berch and Palladino would then each score their second goals of the game just 32 seconds apart to make the score 15-7 in favor of Drew entering the fourth quarter. Palladino's goal came shorthanded with 3:20 left in the frame.

Despite Manhattanville's efforts to get back into this one, the Rangers scored six straight goals over the first 6:09 of the fourth to go ahead 21-7. Three straight unassisted tallies by Cornelia across a 2:17 span brought the score to 21-10 with 5:53 left in regulation. Curley put the finishing touches on his seven goal performance with 4:31 to play before Cornelia netted his seventh of the night with under a minute remaining from Palladino to bring the final score to 22-11.

Cody Johnston (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) and Joe Ulzheimer (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) each played a half in net for the Valiants. The grad student Johnston made his fourth start in the cage, making 10 saves while surrendering 12 goals in the first half. The rookie Ulzheimer made his collegiate debut in the second half, making 12 saves while being charged with 10 goals allowed.

Nick Padovani (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) finished with a team-high eight ground balls while winning 11 faceoffs. Mike Mooney (Tappan, N.Y./Tappan Zee) was credited with five grounders while causing a team-leading four turnovers. Cornelia, Sal DeBenedetto (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan) and Frank Tallerico (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) would all each finish the game with five ground balls as well.
 
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The Valiants look to bounce back and resume their winning ways on Tuesday when they host the University of Saint Joseph at 4 p.m.