NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College women's soccer team saw a second-half comeback fall just short in a 5-4 home loss to Manhattanville College on Wednesday evening at Celentano Field. Both Katherine Raposo (Warwick, R.I.) and Emmalee Ianniello (Hamden, Conn.) tallied a goal and an assist on the night, while Keegan Riccio (West Haven, Conn.) and Erina Ismaili (Middlebury, Conn.) scored there first goals of the season.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Manhattanville 5 | Albertus 4
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (1-2) | Manhattanville (1-1)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Valiants surged ahead in the opening 13 minutes, scoring twice by the 12:04 mark. Kelley Barrera netted the first goal, banging a shot off the left pipe into the back of the net. Then, Ashley Hayes put the visitors up 2-0 by lifting a shot from outside the box that flew just over the outreached arms of the Falcons' starting keeper Michelle Mecca (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.).
Albertus started to chip away in the 20th minute. Raposo cut the deficit to 2-1 with a chipped right-foot shot that flew into the top-right corner. Ianniello earned the assist on the play with a sliding pass into the center of the box.
Riccio tied the score at 2-all at the 34-minute mark, launching a corner kick from the right sideline that fooled the opposing keeper in the air, allowing the ball to curve over the goal line for the unassisted tally.
Manhattanville broke the tie 3:37 into the second half on a goal by Jennifer Xiong. Xiong stole the ball at the top of the box and beat a defender to give the Valiants a 3-2 advantage in the 49th minute.
The Valiants added an insurance goal in the 70th minute on a strike by Natalie Aracena to set the score at 4-2 Manhattanville.
Albertus drew within one goal in the 76th minute with a beautiful strike from Ismaili. Raposo earned her third point in the evening by sending the ball up the right side of the field, where Ismaili struck a dart over the keeper's head without gathering first.
Manhattanville added one more to their advantage in the 84th minute with an Ashley Hayes' tally. Albertus answered again in the 88th minute on an Ianniello score, but the effort was in vain, as the Valiants kept the Falcons away from the box for the remainder of the game to preserve a 5-4 victory.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Michelle Mecca (1-2): 14 Shots on Goal | 5 Goals-Against | 9 Saves
Manhattanville: Alexa Pyatsky (1-1): 7 Shot on Goal | 4 Goals-Against | 3 Saves
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• The Valiants outshot the Falcons 20-10, with 14 shots on goal to the Falcons' seven shots on goal.
• The Falcons had four different players score a goal in the contest.
• The Valiants held the edge in corner kicks, 3-2.
• Manhattanville totaled six fouls to the Falcons' three.
NOTEWORTHY
• This is the first meeting between the two programs.
• Raposo's goal is her first of the season and the 18th of her career.
• Riccio's goal is her first as a junior and the fourth of her career.
• Mecca tallied a season-high nine saves in the contest.
• Ismaili's goal is the first of her young collegiate tenure.
UP NEXT
The women's soccer team returns home on Saturday, Sept. 11, as the Falcons host Rivier University. The opening kick-off is set for 1:00 PM at Celentano Field.
