MONTCLAIR, N.J. – 19th-ranked Montclair State completed an undefeated Skyline Conference regular season with a 20-8 win at home over the Valiants Friday night, but Manhattanville will get another crack at the champs in the first round of the Skyline Tournament when the fourth-seeded Valiants travel back to New Jersey Wednesday for the semifinals.

Last season, the Valiants lost to Montclair State in the Championship Game of the Skyline Conference Tournament but Manhattanville try again Wednesday at a time to be announced. The Valiants qualified for the four-team tournament by winning a three-way tiebreaker over Kean and Farmingdale State.

Friday night, Abbe Grimes (Hamden, Conn.) and Katie Bertel (Colorado Springs, Colo.) combined for seven goals and four assists but got little help from their teammates. Bertel scored four times – upping her season total to 24 – to lead the way but Grimes had three points and three assists, extending her team-leading totals to 44 goals, 21 assists and 65 points. The sophomore ranks in the top five in the conference in points and goals per game.

The Valiants dug themselves a giant hole right out of the gate Friday, falling behind 10-0 before 20 minutes had expired in the game. Three different Red Hawks scored twice during the run and Montclair State had a 12-2 lead at the intermission. Bertel and Jenna McGuire (Brewster, N.Y.) each had first half goals.

Mary Albano (Trumbull, Conn.) made 16 saves for the Valiants but suffered the loss while Kristin Kuhmann made only five stops but picked up the win. Four different Red Hawk players – Marykate DiBenedetto, Shauna Brocklebank, Ann Daily and Nicole LaRocco – each scored three goals as part of a balanced Montclair State (11-3, 6-0 Skyline) attack.

Manhattanville (6-8, 2-4 Skyline) will close out the regular season Sunday afternoon at Vassar at 1:00 p.m. before beginning the quest for a Skyline Tournament Title and automatic NCAA Tournament berth Wednesday at Montclair.

2007-04-28