Valiants Outlast Rams for Non-Conference
Win
Manhattanville - 13, Farmingdale State - 12
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Manhattanville Valiants
(4-0) held on to a one goal lead in the final minutes of the second
half to take a 13-12 victory over Farmingdale State (1-2) in
today's non-conference women'slacrosse game. The Rams trailed 13-11
with 8:30 to go and cut the deficit to 13-12 with a goal by senior
midfielder Theresa Rokee (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), assisted
by junior attacker Kathy Waite (Levittown, N.Y./Division Ave.) but
could not convert in the final minutes.
In a game that featured 11 yellow cards, eight ties and five lead
changes, Manhattanville scored the opening goal on a free position
shot and the Rams responded with two goals for the quick 2-1 edge.
The teams traded the next four goals, as Farmingdale held a 4-3
lead with 12 minutes left in the first half. Valiants
sophomoremidfielder Cassie Kovac (Saugerties, N.Y.) scored the next
two goals for the Valiants, pushing her team ahead 5-4.
Sophomore midfielder Justine Rothar (Levittown, N.Y./Division
Ave.), Rokee and sophomore midfielder Jackie Messina (Nesconset,
N.Y./Smithtown) combined for the next three goals to get the Rams
back in the lead, 7-5, before the Valiants closed out the first
half with two straight goals for a 7-7 tie at thehalf.
Rothar opened the second half with her fourth goal to give the
Rams the 8-7 lead, but Manhattanville took control over the next 10
minutes to build up a three-goal cushion.
The Valiants wouldn't lead for long, as Rokee notched her second
goal with 16:15 on the clock, assisted by freshman midfielder
Shannon Reardon (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon). Messina scored
two minutes later on a free position shot, and then tallied her
third goal with 11:40 left to play, tying the game at 11-11.
Manhattanville converted on two free positions by sophomore
attacker Jen Ascencio (Monroe, N.Y.) and senior midfielder Katie
Bertel (Colorado Springs, Col.) to take the 13-11 lead. Rokee
scored her third goal to cut the lead to one, but the Rams couldn't
find the final goal for the tie.
Manhattanville sophomore goalkeeper Kirstin Betsill (Parkton,
Md.) made three crucial saves, including two free position stops,
in the final seven minutes of play. She finished with 14 saves for
the win.
Freshman goalkeeper Courtney Cooke (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) made 15 saves in defeat for the Rams.
Farmingdale State will have a short break before hosting Skyline
Conference opponent Mount Saint Vincent on Thursday, March 26th at
4:00pm.
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