(Bronx, NY) – During one of their best defensive efforts of the 2005 season, the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Soccer team lost a 1-0 nailbiter to Manhattanville College - the second place team in the
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| Jackie Rizzotto enjoyed a solid defensive game, but the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Soccer team lost 1-0 to Manhattanville |
Skyline Conference - in a game played at Maritime College. Dolphins goalie
Alexis Alessi (Rockville Centre, NY/Oceanside HS) mad e nine saves, and the Mount defense stymied the potent Manhattanville attack throughout the game, but one crucial breakdown allowed the Valiants to escape with the win. In the 16th minute, Manhattanville senior
Erika Seery (Lynbrook, NY) scored on a breakaway off of an assist by freshman
Elena Haynes (Stohegan, ME) for the game's only goal. Other than the breakaway, the Valiants were held to few scoring chances, and 10 shots on goal.
With the win, Manhattanville improves to 6-11-1 overall and 4-1 in the Skyline Conference, while with their second consecutive loss, the Dolphins fall to 7-7 overall, and finish the 2005 season 1-5 in the Conference. This marks the second straight season that Manhattanville has defeated the Mount 1-0 in Women's Soccer, and spoiled Senior Day for Mount seniors Jackie Rizzotto (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) and Rebecca Bode (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills HS), who played in their final regular season home game today.
Neither team held a decisive advantage early as both struggled with a fierce wind that blew throughout the game. The game's only goal actually occurred after a Dolphin scoring opportunity, as after Mount Saint Vincent failed to capitalize on a corner kick, the Valiants sprinted into transition where Haynes found Seery wide open on the right side. The senior had several seconds to make a move and she fired a shot high and over a diving Alessi for the lead.
After the goal, the Valiant defense stayed back and allowed the Mount few opportunities to score. Manhattanville goalie Michelle Rubero (West Hartford, CT) made three saves for her fifth shutout of the season.
With their Skyline Conference slate behind them, the Mount will now focus on competing for the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) Championship. With a win over CCNY on Friday, the Dolphins will clinch the #2 seed in the HVWAC playoffs and home field advantage until the potential Championship Game on Saturday, Nov. 5.
