PATCHOGUE, N.Y. - Back-to-back! In an instant Skyline classic contest, the Manhattanville University men's soccer team took down the No. 1-seeded Golden Eagles of St. Joseph's-Long Island, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon. After not hoisting a conference title since 1999, the Valiants now have two in as many years, after defeating Farmingdale State in the finals last go-around. With the win, the Valiants secure an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament with an overall record of 13-7-1. 

Manhattanville started off the scoring under sixty seconds into the contest, as the ball found its way to the right foot of Kenneth Suqui (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow), who placed it into the side netting with a half-volley, giving the Valiants an early lead. Later in the half, the Golden Eagles would answer back, with Nick Pensavalle catching the Valiants on a counterattack to tie the score at one-all. Swifty later, SJLI would mount the lead for the first time of the day with Pensavalle finding Jack Pulisic in the box, for a 2-1 Golden Eagle margin. As time ticked by, the Valiants would continue to keep possession in the opposing half, eventually leading to St. Joe's fouling a Valiant in the box for a penalty kick. Penalty kicktaker Jostyn Blanco (Norwalk, Conn./Brien Mcmahon High School) stepped up to the spot and did what he had done all season long, placing it into the lower right corner to even up the game once again, but this time at two-all. 

All the second stanza got underway, Demba Cham (Bronx, NY/World View High School) let a shot ring from the top of the 18-yard box, getting set up by Blanco and Kyle Knussman (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), seeing the momentum swing in the Valiants' favor, as they now sit up, 3-2. The Golden Eagles were given another chance to level the score, when a tough challenge from the Valiant netminder resulted in a penalty kick, with Devin Seara slotting it home, as the contest for a second time sat tied, being three-apiece now. The deadlock would hold for the next thirteen minutes of game time, as the Valiants would break through the SJLI backline, this time with a free kick opportunity on the right side, just outside the box. Joseph Kresse (Goshen, NY/Goshen High School) would whip it in, finding the head of Johnny Antolino (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) and rippling the back netting, seeing the Valiants mount a 4-3 lead. The Valiants would control the pace of play, and play a little bit of keep-away from their counterparts over the next eight minutes, as the final buzzer sounded and the Valiants were crowned Skyline Champions for the second-straight time. 

With his efforts throughout the tournament, frontman Mason Chetti (Ronkonoma, N.Y./Connetquot) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, as he terrorized opposing backlines all campaign. 

Luis Granados (Pasadena, Calif./St. Francis) got the nod in net for the Valiants, turning away two shots in the ninety minutes spent between the pipes. 

All told, the Valiants outshot the Golden Eagles, 19-8, and lead in shots on goal with a more even, 7-5. Chetti paced the offensive output with six shots, followed by Blanco with four, as Cham and Alec Pineda (Port Chester, N.Y./Port Chester) rounded out the attempts toward goal with three and two, respectively. Suqui, Antolino, Knussman, and Anthony Mendez (Baltimore, MD/Concordia Prep) all finished the contest with one shot apiece. 

Manhattanville held the corner kick advantage, 8-3. 

Up Next 

The Valiants await their draw for the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced Monday at 1:30 p.m. during the NCAA Selection Show. 

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