PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Manhattanville University field hockey team earned their first conference win this afternoon against Neumann University. The Valiants stand at 1-2 in conference play due to an early goal in the first quarter from Julia Huertas (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd). Â
Prior to the start of the contest, the Manhattanville Athletic Department honored Alyssa Monahan (East Fishkill, NY/John Jay High School) as the team's lone graduating senior of the Class of 2025. Monahan spent all four years of her collegiate career as a mainstay of the Manhattanville defensive unit, starting in all but one game since arriving in Purchase in 2021.
Huertas struck the ball in the back of the net five and a half minutes into the contest, making the score 1-0. This score would be held for the remainder of the game with 55 minutes left of game time for both teams to have more opportunities. Manhattanville held the offensive upper hand outshooting Neumann 4-2 in the first fifteen minutes. Â
Neumann took the offensive advantage in the remaining quarters outshooting the Valiants 4-1 in the second. Senior Alyssa Monahan (East Fishkill, NY/John Jay High School) was the sole shot for the Valiants in the second quarter making this her second of the game. With two penalty corner opportunities from the Knights came two saves from graduate goalie Cat Morgan (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay Senior). Two of the four shots taken were targeted on goal but never hit the back of the cage. Â
Still holding the 1-0 lead on the game, there was still 30 minutes left of play leading into the second half. Manhattanville had no shot opportunities while Neumann had two. They also held a 3-1 penalty corner advantage. The contest remained scoreless at the end of the third quarter giving either team only fifteen more minutes to either extend the lead or tie it up.Â
With a bigger offensive effort shining through from the Valiants, they held a 3-1 penalty corner advantage and added one more shot for themselves for the contest. While the Valiants pushed up field more offensively the Knights had plenty of opportunities outshooting Manhattanville 4-1. With five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Casey McGee shot straight for the middle of the cage with Morgan out of place. As the ball was hurdling towards the goal, Emily Wightman (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) was quick to defend, earning herself a defensive safe and preventing a Naumann goal.Â
Morgan made five saves and earned her first career complete game shutout. Â
Monahan led the team in shots with three while Fiona Doherty (Clarkstown, N.Y./Clarkstown South) followed shortly behind with two and Huertas earned the goal with her one and only shot of the game. Â
The Valiants managed to hold off Neumann as they outshot Manhattanville 12-6 overall.Â
Up NextÂ
 The Valiants look ahead to one more regular season game before heading into playoffs. They hit the road to face Gwynedd Mercy University on Wednesday October 30 at 7:00pm.
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