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PURCHASE, N.Y. – Emelda Ogweta scored the game-winning goal with 1:52 to play, lifting Manhattanville to a 16-15 win over Wilkes University in the Freedom Conference opener. The loss snapped a three-game win streak to kick off the season, which was the best start in Wilkes history.
Melissa Polchinksi poured in six more goals and now has 21 in just four games to lead the Lady Colonels, but an even scoring attack by the Valiants, who had nine different players score goals, improved to 2-0 with the win.
Along with Polchinksi, Amelia Farnham added three goals, while
Brittney Hodnik (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) and Jordan Brown chipped in with two each. Hodnik also had a game-high three assists and now leads the team with 13 on the year.
Both teams tallied multiple scoring runs, but neither established itself with a substantial lead. Polchinksi put the Lady Colonels on the board 33 seconds into the game with an unassisted goal, but Manhattanville tied the game up less than a minute later when Katie Bertel scored an unassisted goal of her own.
The Valiants scored three-straight goals midway through the first period to take a 6-3 advantage, but the Lady Colonels answered with three consecutive goals in just over a minute and a half to tie the game. Neither team would score over the next seven minutes until Manhattanville closed out the half with a pair of goals in the final 1:37, including a score with one second left to lead 8-6 at the break.
The Valiants opened the second half with five-straight goals to take a commanding 13-6 lead with 22:47 to go, but Wilkes stormed back with five-straight scores to pull within two with just under 11 minutes to play.
Wilkes tied the game at 15 with three-straight goals capped off with an unassisted goal by Polchinski with 3:47 to play. Despite being down a player, Ogweta was able to get a ball in the back of the net for the game-winner.
Goal keeper Allie Zukuft played the first 34 minutes of action, blocking six saves, before
Cassie Cronin (Manchester, NH/Manchester Memorial) had five saves in relief.
Wilkes will return home when it hosts FDU-Florham at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Edwardsville.
