Junior Keston George (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago) scored the game-winning goal with 3:25 remaining in regulation to propel the Manhattanville men’s soccer team to their first win of the season, a 1-0 victory over non-conference Vassar College at Gordon Field on Saturday afternoon.
Manhattanville had many opportunities in the contest to score, as senior Sebastian Chica (Port Chester, N.Y.) found the cage in the first half, but a diving Grimmie kept the game scoreless. Midway into the second half, sophomore Moshee Kelyana (Scarborough, Ontario) streaked down the middle of the field but nearly missed the right goal post. The Valiants registered 14 shots in the second half as the team found openings left by the Vassar defense.
The Manhattanville defensive unit was a key to the success in the contest, as the team allowed only one shot to face senior netminder Jason Torres (Harrison, N.Y.), who picked up his 13th career shutout and is now tied for third all-time in the program record books with Pete Rotolo ’99 and Jerry Tellier ’08.
Vassar's only opportunity to score came with seconds remaining in the first half on a corner kick, but a pair of blocks by the defenders in black allowed the team to head into the locker room with a sigh of relief.
Manhattanville (1-1, 0-0 Freedom) will return to action next Friday as they begin the 2010 Valiant Classic with a meeting against NCAA Tournament participant Plattsburgh State beginning at approximately 7 p.m. The contest will be broadcasted live on GoValiants.TV as will all men’s soccer home games this season. Vassar (1-1, 0-0 Liberty) will remain home to host SUNY Old Westbury on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.