RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University women's soccer team concluded the regular season on Tuesday night at Mount Saint Vincent, falling 1-0 to the Dolphins. The Valiants now carry a 6-6-4 overall record and a 5-4-2 mark in the Skyline Conference, securing the No. 6 seed in this weekend's Conference Championship Tournament. Manhattanville returns to postseason play for the first time since 2022 after missing the cut last season.

Conversely, the Dolphins secured the regular season championship with the win, as the reigning Skyline champions will spot the No. 1 seed for the tournament and earn a first round bye.

With the Dolphins generating a majority of the night's scoring chances, the big and lone blow came in the 80^th minute as the home squad broke through in a defensive battle. The Dolphins carried the ball down field, with Dana DeDominicis weaving her way through the Valiant defense and letting a shot rip. Macey Girard (Branford, Conn./Branford) made the stop on the shot, but the rebound caromed out to Eva Puentes who headed the ball in midair into the open net to deliver the game-winning goal.

The Valiants looked to have netted the equalizer with two minutes remaining in regulation as Stephanie Sanchez (Rye, N.Y./The Masters School) booted in a corner kick. The ball was placed perfectly for Alexandra Brauer (Lake Grove, N.Y./St. John The Baptist Diocesan) to head the ball on net. While the attempt was played by Dolphin keeper Javiera Sanchez, Megan Leser (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) came charging in to make a play on the ball and tapped it in net, but before the Valiants could celebrate, the play was waved dead for offiside. The remaining 1:47 ticked off the clock without any further theatrics, putting the Dolphins atop the standings as they look to defend the crown.

Girard finished with seven saves to keep Manhattanville in the contest all night. The junior carried a 1.20 goals-against average into the postseason.

The header by Brauer was Manhattanville's lone shot on goal in the affair as the team took nine total shot attempts. Brauer accounted for five, with Leser adding a pair. Mia Castaneda (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) and Kelly Barrera (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester High School) both finished with a shot apiece.

Manhattanville held a 5-1 corner kick advantage, with a majority of those coming in the final three minutes looking for the tying goal.

Up Next
The Valiants are locked into the No. 6 seed, owning the tiebreaker over Mount Saint Mary as a result of Manhattanville's draw with USMMA earlier in the season. Manhattanville now awaits the results of tomorrow's Farmingdale-Yeshiva matchup to determine Saturday's quarterfinal opponent. A Farmingdale win or tie will send the Valiants to USMMA, while a Yeshiva victory will result in Sarah Lawrence holding the No. 3 seed and hosting Manhattanville. More information will be available on GoValiants.com in the following days.

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