RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University men's lacrosse team got back in the win column with an 18-12 victory over Mount Saint Vincent on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Valiants improved to 7-8 overall and 3-2 in Skyline Conference play while holding sole possession of fourth place in the standings hoping to secure a playoff berth in the coming weeks.
The Dolphins got on the board first with a goal from Ryan Jean-Pharuns in a man up opportunity. The Valiants responded with three quick goals from James Weinbaum (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac), Tyler Berch (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset), and Sean Larkin (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) to take a 3-1 lead with less than four minutes to go in the quarter. Mount Saint Vincent's Savion Williams came back with one of his own to bring it back within one. Manhattanville's leading scorer, Nick Cornelia (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) then found the back of the net to capitalize on the lead. The quarter would be closed out with a goal from Isaac Parsons, as the Dolphins trailed the Valiants, 4-3.
The Valiants had a dominant second quarter offensively, outscoring the Dolphins, 6-3. It would be a pair from Drew Palladino (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Larkin to begin play. Mount Saint Vincent then scored three straight to tie it up, 6-6. The Valiants weren't thrilled with how close the score was and went on a tear for four straight from Michael Swift (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle), Palladino, and a pair from Cornelia to bring it to halftime with Manhattanville leading 10-6.
The Valiants found their rhythm in sequences of scoring, another three straight to open the second half. Cornelia and a pair from Tyler Berch (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) put Manhattanville ahead by seven. Goals from the Dolphins' Ethan Fajardo, Williams, and Jean-Pharuns each found the back of the net to get back within four.Larkin and Berch would score a pair to help the offense, taking a 16-10 lead.
It was a slow fourth quarter with only four goals scored combined. Cochran scoring as Jake Strobel (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) responded with a goal, his second of the season. Mount Saint Vincent would get another on the board trying to close the gap but with less than two minutes remaining, Cornelia would score his sixth and final goal of the contest to secure the Valiants' third conference win.
Joe Ulzheimer (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) and Cody Johnston (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) split time in net once again. Ulzheimer got the start, playing a little more than 22 minutes. He made three saves, while allowing four goals. Johnston came in to finish off the final 37 minutes with a season-high 10 saves, and eight goals allowed.
Defensively, Francisco Rosas (Stratford, Conn./Stratford) led the team with four ground balls and four caused turnovers. Aaron Goldstein (Walden, N.Y./Valley Central) and Nick Padovani (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) combined for 11 draws in the faceoff circle.
VALIANTS on SOCIAL MEDIA For the latest on Manhattanville Athletics, follow the Valiants via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. #WeAreValiant #GoValiants
