PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College women's soccer team notched the first win of their 2023 campaign, 1-0, against Drew in the opening action at GoValiants.com on Friday night.

The transfer from St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, Mia Castaneda (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), scored the lone goal of the contest in the 88^th minute from a set piece that bounced off the left post and trickled across the goal line away from the outstretched arms of the goaltender to get the Valiants off to a 1-0-0 start for the first time in ten years.
 

RAPID REACTION: Mia Casteneda after scoring the game-winning goal. pic.twitter.com/HIm1JpydHa

— Manhattanville College Valiants (@GoValiants) September 1, 2023

In the first half, the Rangers paced the offensive chances as they created two shots in five minutes. The Valiants returned the favor minutes later with two shots of their own, both missing the target. Skyla Marrone (East Northport, N.Y./St. Anthony's) found herself being booked in the 26^th minute. Both teams peppered the opposition with no goals, as Macey Girard (Branford, Conn./Branford) notched three saves and Drew's Sarah Crowley stopped two shots.

Following the scoreless first half, Natalie Aracena (Bronx, N.Y./Riverdale Kingsbride Academy) started the second half of play by receiving a yellow card in the 48^th minute. Stephanie Sanchez (Rye, N.Y./The Masters School) had the Valiants best chance of the game ten minutes later, seeing her shot rattle off the crossbar. The Rangers' Alexa Krause answered back with a shot of her own that hit the woodwork after finding herself through on goal and one-on-one with the keeper, who cut down the angle pushing the shot to the post.

Drew's Meghan Sharkey picked up the third yellow card of the match from what turned out to be a chippy second half of play, totaling 12 fouls for both sides. Four minutes later, the Rangers' Emily Camlet earned a yellow card of her own after a challenge on the far touchline.

Castaneda's game-winning goal proved to be the difference in the contest, as Drew couldn't create another chance following a 90th-minute offsides call.

Girard ended the contest with the aforementioned three saves, earning her first win on the season.

Although the Rangers led the shot disparity with twelve to nine, the Valiants controlled the shots-on-goal, edging out with four to three. Drew was also awarded all six corner kick opportunities in the contest.

Up Next
Manhattanville will be back on GoValiants.com on Tuesday, Sept. 5 when they take on Rowan at 4 p.m.

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