RYE, N.Y. – Abby Mellen (Rockport, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon / Vermont Academy / East Coast Wizards) scored her first collegiate goal while Olivia Cimorelli (West Deptford, N.J./The Hill School / Ironbound Elite) earned her second-straight shutout as the Manhattanville University women's hockey team returned to the ice for the new year with a 1-0 victory over Curry on Saturday evening. The Valiants improve to 4-6-1 overall, while the Colonels drop to 4-6-0.

Following a scoreless opening period, Mellen delivered the only blow of the contest 3:40 into the second, firing home a shot from Danielle Stadler (Zurich, Switzerland/Kantonsschule Wiedikon / GCK Lions) to beat Hannah Garrett-Howard in the Curry crease in the rookie netminder's first collegiate game. Mellen picks up her first collegiate point in her eighth game on the ice for the Valiants, while Stadler also earned her first career point with the helper.

The slimmest of leads was plenty for Cimorelli to work with as Manhattanville's rookie goaltender continues to come into her own halfway through the season. The freshman stopped all 35 shots she faced from the Colonel skaters and has now played more than 132 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal. Cimorelli ended 2024 with a 27 save shutout against William smith on Dec. 7, a day removed from a 31 save effort against the Herons with just one goal surrendered in a 1-1 tie. Saturday's performance brings Cimorelli over 200 saves for the season, now standing at 213 through seven games in the crease with a .934 save percentage and a goals-against average that has plummeted to 2.31.

The Colonels had no shortage of chances to find an equalizer, getting five looks on the power play throughout the night. Curry fired 10 shots with the skater advantage, but the Valiants were able to kill off all five Colonel power plays. Curry's strongest push came in the third when they logged six shots on net in an abbreviated 1:45 extra skater opportunity, but Cimorelli slammed the door shut to protect Manhattanville's advantage. Cimorelli finished with 13 saves in both the second and third period to earn her second win of the year.

Likewise, Manhattanville had opportunities to extend the lead, but the Valiants went 0-for-6 on their power play chances, taking 11 total shots with the extra skater.

Curry outshot Manhattanville 35-21 in the contest. Colby Cantor (Norwell, Mass./North American Hockey Academy) and Annie Niedermier (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) finished with three shots each to lead the Valiants. Niedermier also blocked three shots, a team-leading total matched by Lulu LePage (Swansea, Mass./Elmira College).

The Colonels also held the advantage on the faceoffs, winning 26 draws to Manhattanville's 21. Niedermier led the Valiants on the dot with 11 faceoff wins.

Up Next
The teams meet again at Playland tomorrow at 3 p.m. to close out the weekend.

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