RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University men's hockey team took to home ice for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign on Friday night, dropping a 4-3 overtime decision against SUNY Cortland. The Valiants fall to 0-2-0 to begin the season, while Cortland, who received votes in this week's USCHO poll, improves to 2-1-0.

After a scoreless first period, the Valiants lit the lamp 3:19 into the second period on the team's third power play opportunity of the night. Controlling the puck in the offensive zone, a series of quick passes from Brandon Paluszak (Powell, Ohio/Gilmour Academy) and Nicholas Rogers (Broad Channel, N.Y./Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NA3HL)) set Corey Popowcer (Parkland, Fla./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) up atop the far circle where he rifled in a one-timer on one knee past Ronan Mobley to put the Valiants in front.

The Red Dragons responded with a power play goal of their won 11 minutes later on Sam Christiano's tally with the man advantage. Manhattanville regained the lead in the closing minute of the second period. Justin Fernet (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Taft School) intercepted a breakout pass attempt in the neutral zone to start a rush going the other way. Fernet centered a pass to Caden Eaton (Indian River, Mich./Cornwall Colts (CCHL)), who left the puck on the doorstep for the trailing Jack Roberts (Middlefield, CT/Lyman Hall) as the rookie found the twine for his first collegiate goal and putting the Valiants up by one entering the final period.

Manhattanville struck again 3:09 into the third as Tristan D'Elia (West Chester, Pa./Philadelphia Little Flyers (EHL)) was able to slide the puck in five hole from Johno Hoins (Telluride, Colo./The Frederick Gunn School / Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)) and Jack Cullen (Trumbull, Conn./Charlotte Rush (USPHL)). Cortland mounted its comeback by slicing Manhattanville's lead in half at 7:29 on Christiano's second of the night before Brady Hildreth made it a new game with 3:41 remaining in regulation with the game-tying goal.

The Valiants were set up perfectly to take advantage in overtime after a hooking call gave Manhattanville a 4-on-3 advantage in the extra period, but the visitors had other plans as Conor Humphrey intercepted a pass shorthanded and beat William Billequey (Montreal, Quebec/Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) one-on-one to complete the Red Dragons' come from behind victory.

Billequey finished with 38 saves in the loss, making double digit stops in all three periods of regulation. The junior logged a game-high 16 saves in the third period.

The Valiants put 22 pucks on target in the game, led by three apiece from Eaton and Rogers. Manhattanville held a 40-35 advantage on the draw, thanks in large part to Ryan McKenna's (Spokane, Wash./Sheridan Hawks (NA3HL)) 14-9 effort on the dot.

Parker Chadwell (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors (USPHL)) disrupted shot attempts all night long, finishing with a team-high five blocked shots.

Up Next
The Valiants close out the week looking to pick up that first win on Saturday at the Ice Casino against Salve Regina. Puck drop is slated for 2 p.m. in Rye.

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