NEW LONDON, CT – The Manhattanville University men's hockey team opened up their final weekend of non-conference play with a tightly contested road battle at Connecticut College on Friday afternoon, falling 3–2 in a game that remained undecided until the final minutes of regulation.

The Valiants set the tone early and struck first just 1:55 into the opening period. Brett LoGelfo (Long Island, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, finishing a quick offensive-zone sequence off an assist from Zach Choueiri (Montreal, Quebec/Renfrew Wolves (CCHL)) to give Manhattanville a 1–0 lead. The goal capped a strong start that saw the Valiants generate sustained pressure and multiple early scoring chances from Johno Hoins (Telluride, Colo./The Frederick Gunn School / Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)) and Brandon Paluszak (Powell, Ohio/Gilmour Academy).

Connecticut College answered back in the second period, tying the game at 8:12, and bringing the most action to the game. Manhattanville quickly regained momentum later in the frame when Tristan D'Elia (West Chester, Pa./Philadelphia Little Flyers (EHL)) restored the lead at 13:57, burying a shot off a feed from Lane Paddison (100 Mile House, Canada/Canmore Eagles (AJHL)) to make it 2–1. The Camels responded once more at 16:21, evening the score at two apiece heading into the final period.

The third period unfolded as a defensive battle, with both goaltenders turning away multiple quality looks. Manhattanville pushed for a go-ahead goal with chances from D'Elia, Corey Popowcer (Parkland, Fla./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)), Brian Essing (Trumbull, Conn./Norwich Sea Captains (NA3HL)), and Lucas Baksay (Fairfield, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)). The Valiants endurance held strong as Ryan McKenna (Spokane, Wash./Sheridan Hawks (NA3HL)) rang a shot off the pipe late in the second period that narrowly missed changing the momentum.

Connecticut College ultimately found the difference-maker at 15:09 of the third, to put the Camels ahead 3–2. The Valiants pulled Tripp Clarke (Cazenovia, N.Y./Northern Cyclones (USPHL Premier)) for the extra attacker in the closing minutes, but were unable to find the equalizer before the final horn.

Clarke delivered a steady performance in net for Manhattanville, making 21 key saves throughout the night to keep the game within reach. Offensively, the Valiants' balanced attack gained on the Camels with 34 shots and strong face off play to help control long stretches of play. 

Up Next:
The Valiants are back on the road as they head to Anna Maria College in Paxton Massachusetts facing the AMCATS at 6:40PM tomorrow, January 10th.