Soccer goalkeeper Mannino’s streak third-best all-time

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With eight minutes and 44 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Toledo’s Heather Wesley lined up for a corner kick.

As she struck the ball and it flew through the air toward the six-yard box, it was junior Shay Mannino rising above players from each team to catch it and take away the Rockets’ chance.

Mannino said in those situations, she has to make a choice quickly and stick with it.

“If I can get my hands on it and I can get to it, then I will be coming out,” she said. “If I can’t get a full hand on it, then I’ll punch it or tip it away from the forward. It is just split-second decision. I just have to make sure I’m going to be in good position.”

About two minutes later, when it looked like Toledo might get a breakaway, it was Mannino rushing out of the 18-yard-box to beat a Toledo player to the ball and sending it out wide and far enough for her to get back in net to save a shot by senior Molly Cornwell soon after.
“Shay was rock-solid today,” coach Tom Anagnost said.

No goals allowed

CMU has gone 1,227 minutes and 26 seconds since allowing a goal, and Mannino made four saves against Toledo, including three in the second overtime to preserve the streak.

The time is the third-longest shutout streak in NCAA history, and she has helped the team to 13 consecutive shutouts. The shutout streak moves the team to a tie for second all-time in NCAA Division-I history with the 1989 North Carolina team that went 24-0 and won the NCAA Championship.

Even with Mannino’s play in goal, Anagnost credits his whole team for the shutout streak.

“Just like with soccer or anything in life, if you are committed to something, it gets done,” he said, “Our team has been committed to defending individually and as a team the whole season.”

Freshman Bailey Brandon, who has started every game in her career at CMU, said the back line of the team knows how to play together, and that makes a huge impact on the game.

“Our defense is so strong because, A, we have built confidence and, B, because we have good chemistry and communication,” she said. “With a backline, that is one of the biggest things and, when it comes down to it, we take a lot of pride in it.”

Mannino said one of the keys for her defense has been its ability to help each other when it is needed.

“We’re really comfortable with each other,” she said. “We have good communication and we are strong together. We talk a lot and are always behind each other making sure we back each other up.”

While the players are the ones on the field making the stops and stepping forward to stop the break, Brandon gives a lot of credit to the coaches for getting them ready for games with tape study and practice.

“It just comes down to preparation and hard work,” Brandon said. “Our coaches have done a great job taking us day-by-day, while pushing us to our limits without breaking us.”