RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University women's hockey team took to the home ice for the first time this season on Friday night but were unable to slow down a strong attack from Nazareth, falling 5-1 at the Playland Ice Casino. The Valiants move to 0-3-0 (0-1-0 UCHC) to open the 2025-26 campaign, while the Golden Flyers improve to 3-1-0 (1-0-0 UCHC) with the conference matchup victory.

Manhattanville opened the game with an early jump, generating a pair of power-play opportunities in the opening four minutes. The Valiants peppered Nazareth goaltender Mia Gonsalves with seven shot attempts during the back-to-back advantages, but the Golden Flyers' defense held firm to keep the contest scoreless.

Nazareth broke through first at 9:21 of the period, as Ella Mannila finished a feed from Amy Laskowski to put the visitors ahead. The Valiants responded swiftly just over a minute later. After drawing their third power play of the frame, Manhattanville went to work in the offensive zone as Harper Weisbeck (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) and Taylor Willoughby (Camrose, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Extreme) set up Erin Flaherty (Rockland, Mass./Canterbury School). Flaherty buried the puck at 10:59 to even the contest with her first of the season.

The tie was short-lived, however, as the Golden Flyers reclaimed the lead 14 seconds later on a strike from Laskowski, sending Manhattanville into the first intermission trailing 2-1.

Nazareth extended the advantage midway through the second period. Meredith Boettcher found space in the slot at 6:35, pushing the Golden Flyers' lead to 3-1. The Golden Flyers' continued to extend their lead with a penalty shot from Laskowski extending the lead to 4-1. Despite a series of strong efforts from both sides—the Valiants were unable to generate a lead. Goaltender Olivia Cimorelli (West Deptford, N.J./The Hill School / Ironbound Elite) turned aside a dozen shots in the frame to keep the margin within reach.

The Valiants continued to battle in the third, generating two more power-play chances across the final 20 minutes. Cimorelli remained sharp between the pipes, making a series of key stops during strong offensive rallies from Nazareth. 

With the Valiants pressing late, Manhattanville pulled the goalie for the extra attacker with just under two minutes remaining. Nazareth capitalized on the empty net at 18:47 as Boettcher tallied her second of the game to seal the 5-1 final.

Cimorelli finished with 25 saves, anchoring a defensive unit that blocked 18 Nazareth attempts. Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy / East Coast Wizards) led the offense with three shots as Harper Weisbeck (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland), Erin Flaherty (Rockland, Mass./Canterbury School), and Danika Aubin (Guy, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)) followed close behind with two. The Valiants won 22 faceoffs on the evening behind the work of Corsica Skibinski, Sophia Pittis, Brooke Judkiewicz, and Abby Flanagan. 

Up Next: 
Manhattanville returns to the Playland Ice Casino tomorrow at 2 PM, closing out their Home and Conference opening weekend against Nazareth University.