MEDIA, Pa. – The Manhattanville University women's soccer team procured its first win of the 2026 season on Tuesday afternoon, shutting out Penn State Brandywine in a 2-0 victory. The Valiants improve to 1-2-0, while the Nittany Lions fall to 1-4-0.
After being held off the scoreboard through the first 180 minutes of the season, the Valiants outshot the Nittany Lions 13-6 in the opening half. Despite the offensive advantage, it looked as if it would be another scoreless half for Manhattanville as the clock dipped below a minute to play in the first. However, a Brandywine foul gave the Valiants a free kick on their side of the field.
Audrey Fenninger (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) booted the ball the length of the pitch into traffic in front of the Nittany Lion net, where
Jennay Amaral (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) was able to collect the loose ball and feed it to
Johanna Gibson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Edward R Murrow) who arced the ball off the side of her cleat over keeper Jasmin Alvarez for Manhattanville's first goal of the year with 36 seconds left in the half.
The goal was Gibson's eighth of her career and would prove to be her first collegiate game-winner. Amaral, meanwhile, was credited with her third career assist.
The Valiants maintained the offensive control in the second with a 14-1 shot advantage.
Drita Tinaj (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) netted an insurance tally in the 64
th minute, going bar down with the ninth goal of her career after weaving her way through the Brandywine backline.
Elliott Allen (Las Vegas, Nev./Cimarron-Memorial) earned the win in goal for the Valiants, making four saves in the first half. She gave way to
Gabrielle Billetz (Clarksburg, Mass./Hoosac Valley) in the second, who did not face a shot on target in her 45 minutes of action.
It was the Valiants' first combined shutout since October 11, 2025 when Manhattanville defeated Saint Joseph's Brooklyn 6-0 on a clean sheet posted by
Macey Girard (Branford, Conn./Branford) and
Alexa Bennett (Sparrowbush, N.Y./Port Jervis).
Manhattanville's 27 total shots and 13 shots on goal were both season-highs, their most since last year's season finale against Old Westbury (28 shots, 17 shots on goal).
Gibson led the attack effort with six total shots, putting three on target.
Jazleen Vega (Land O' Lakes, Fla./Sunlake) also fired three shots on cage, with both her and
Deanna Lage (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) finishing with four total shot attempts apiece.
Despite dominating the possession battle, Manhattanville held just a slight 3-2 advantage on corners.
Up Next
Manhattanville opens conference play on Saturday, hosting Farmingdale at 3 p.m. for the backend of a Valiant-Rams doubleheader on GoValiants.com Field.
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