RYE, N.Y. — The Manhattanville women's ice hockey team returned home to the Playland Ice Casino Saturday evening, facing off against Albertus Magnus College in a tightly contested match up, ultimately falling 2-1. Despite the loss, the contest was highlighted by a goal from Ali Joly (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Dunbarton / Caledon Coyotes) to avoid a shutout. 

The opening period led off in a combative state, with both teams trading off shots on goal, battling for the first mark on the scoreboard. Manhattanville continued to pressure the Falcons' goaltender before completing a feed from Colby Cantor (Norwell, Mass./North American Hockey Academy) and Danika Aubin (Guy, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)) to Joly at 7:08, marking her first goal of the season, and giving the Valiants the first goal and lead for the night. 

Throughout the remainder of the first period, Manhattanville continued to add a horde of shots from Cantor, Molly Sances (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial), and Taylor Willoughby (Camrose, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Extreme). At 18:34, the Valiants earned a power-play opportunity after a high-sticking penalty, giving them a woman-up advantage. Unable to exploit the power play, Manhattanville headed into the first intermission up 1-0. 

Coming back into play for the second period, the Valiants did not waver in their efforts to continue their advantage against the Falcons. With quality chance shots early in the period from Harper Weisbeck (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) and Emilija Tučiūtė (Vilnius, Lithuania/Ontario Hockey Academy). Manhattanville continued to add pressure before earning a power play opportunity at 14:30 after a hooking penalty was called, giving them the one-woman advantage. 

During the power-play, the Valiants continued their trend of premium shot chances, adding two close shots back-to-back from Weisbeck and Willoughby, but were unable to capitalize on the advantage on the ice. The battle between the two teams continued throughout the period, advancing through long stretches of non-stop play, before Albertus was able to convert a pass at 9:47 and find the back of the Manhattanville net, tying the contest 1-1. 

Manhattanville continued to generate shot opportunities to regain the lead with high-grade shots from Weisbeck and Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy / East Coast Wizards). Shortly after, the Valiants were awarded another power-play opportunity after a call for hooking. The power-play set Manhattanville up for their most dominant play of the game, adding near goals from Katherine Stahl (Middletown, R.I./Middletown), Jada Mackinnon (Barrington, Nova Scotia, Canada/King's Edgehill School), Chinetti, Joly, and Aubin. Despite their dominant push for the advantage, the Valiants ended the period heading to the final period tied at one. 

The Valiants entered the third period with determination and grit, coming in hot with early shot chances from Chinetti, Joly, and Claire Hazard (Barnstable, Mass./Worcester Academy), looking to find the game-winning goal. The two teams continued to campaign for the win, finding themselves in a four-on-four battle on the ice. Both teams' penalties expired without finding the back of the net, but their stamina never wavered, resuming the full lineup. 

With just over six minutes left in the match up, Manhattanville continued to battle for the lead, with Kayla Leonard (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield High School) attempting multiple breakaway shots, unable to find the back of the net despite back-to-back shots. At the three-minute mark, the Falcons called for their first timeout of the game, hoping to maximize their shooting chances. Despite a multitude of scoring chances on both sides, the contest ended the third period tied at one to head into the first period of overtime. 

Just nineteen seconds into the overtime period, Albertus found the back of the net, ending the contest 2-1. Despite the loss, Valiants goaltender stood tall between the posts, clocking 29 saves for a save percentage of 93.5%. 

Up Next: 

The Valiants women's ice hockey team will return to the ice next Friday, February 13th, as they head to face Utica University at 4 PM.