GENEVA, N.Y. – Molly Sances (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) and Colby Cantor (Norwell, Mass./North American Hockey Academy) scored late, but the Manhattanville University women's hockey team's comeback effort against RV/NR William Smith College fell just short on Friday night as the Valiants dropped a 3-2 decision on the road. The loss brings Manhattanville to 2-6-1 on the year, while the Herons improve to 6-3-0.

After playing a pair of contests with three combined goals scored between the teams last year when current Valiant Assistant Coach Erin Murray was manning the crease for the Herons, offense was much more prevalent to open the 2025-26 series in upstate New York. William Smith scored once in each period to build out a 3-0 lead, outshooting Manhattanville 37-32 on the night.

Natalie May put the Herons on the board 14 minutes in from Rachel Fernandez and Skyler Toffolo. The home side doubled up the lead 1:39 into the second off Rowan Kennedey's tally by way of Madeline Diglio and Anna Tardiff, before Finley Crosby opened the final stanza with an unassisted goal with just over 18 minutes left in regulation.

After being denied by Julia Echavarria on their first 22 shot attempts, Sances finally broke through against the William Smith goaltender with 10:27 left to play with her second goal of the season off a pair of assists from Abby Mellen (Rockport, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon / Vermont Academy / East Coast Wizards) and Danielle Stadler (Zurich, Switzerland/Kantonsschule Wiedikon / GCK Lions). The goal tilted the ice in favor of the Valiants as Manhattanville outshot the Herons 10-5 over the remainder of play. After Olivia Cimorelli (West Deptford, N.J./The Hill School / Ironbound Elite) made three saves in quick succession during 4-on-4 play to keep it a two-score game, the Valiants took advantage on a Kennedy tripping penalty to pull back within one. Cantor scored the power play goal from Danika Aubin (Guy, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)) and Taylor Willoughby (Camrose, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Extreme) with 4:45 remaining to make it a 3-2 game.

With their goals, Sances and Cantor move into a three-way tie with Aubin as the team's leading goal scorers with two each, while Aubin's assist pushes her team-leading point total up to seven.

Manhattanville continued to come out firing with six more shots on net over the final four minutes. The Valiants were relentless in the final minute with the net empty and 22 seconds of a power play, but Echavarria withstood the barrage to close out the win for the Herons.

Cimorelli finished with 34 saves for the Valiants, her fourth time this season with 30 or more stops.

Manhattanville's 32 shots was the most by the team in a loss this second and second-most overall through nine games. Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy / East Coast Wizards) led the effort with six shots on goal, followed by Aubin's five. Willoughby and Cantor added four more apiece.

Aubin was also one of four skaters alongside Emilija Tučiūtė (Vilnius, Lithuania), Erin Flaherty (Rockland, Mass./Canterbury School) and Jada Mackinnon (Barrington, Nova Scotia, Canada/King's Edgehill School) to block a pair of shots. Mackinnon also continued to serve as Manhattanville's primary faceoff specialist, winning 15 draws as both teams recorded 33 wins on the dot.

Manhattanville's penalty kill unit went 2-for-2, holding the Herons scoreless on six total shots. The Valiants had nearly 10 minutes of power play time, finishing 1-for-7 with the extra skater on 15 shots.

Up Next
The teams conclude the series tomorrow afternoon with a 4 p.m. puck drop.