KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 20, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's soccer team fell 2-0 to Manhattanville in its home finale on Tuesday night in Skyline Conference action at Bartoszek Field. The Mariners dropped to 5-4-8 overall (4-1-5 Skyline), while the Valiants improved to 11-3-3 (8-1 Skyline).
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Manhattanville generated the first scoring opportunity of the night in the eighth minute when Alec Pineda tested USMMA senior goalkeeper Ethan Howell (Alexandria, Va.), who turned away the attempt to keep the contest scoreless. The Valiants threatened again moments later as Tiernan McLaughlin sent a shot over the crossbar in the ninth minute. Manhattanville opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Manuel Morales found the back of the net on a feed from Pineda, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
The Mariners looked to answer in the 12th minute when junior Cal Lutz (South Pasadena, Calif.) fired a shot on goal, but Manhattanville goalkeeper Jesse James de Ruiter saved it to preserve the 1-0 lead. The Valiants doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Pineda found the back of the net to make it 2-0, which they carried into the halftime break.
In the second half, the Blue and Gray looked to cut into the two-goal deficit in the 61st minute when senior Andrew Jung (Fairfax, Va.) fired a right-footed rocket off a free kick, but de Ruiter knocked it over the crossbar to preserve the two-goal advantage. Merchant Marine continued to apply pressure in the 65th minute when junior Colin Robertson (Milford, Mich.) juggled the ball and sent a left-footed shot over the crossbar from inside the 18. Robertson created another scoring chance in the 70th minute, unleashing a right-footed blast on goal, but de Ruiter denied him again. Robertson threatened again in the 74th minute, but a sliding Manhattanville defender blocked his shot from outside the 18. The Mariners kept searching for a breakthrough, but Manhattanville kept them off the scoreboard to secure the 2-0 shutout win.
USMMA outshot Manhattanville 9-8, including a 7-2 second-half advantage. The Mariners also held a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Howell made two saves for the Mariners, while de Ruiter picked up the victory for the Valiants with three saves.
The Mariners return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, when they travel to Purchase for a Skyline Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
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