Nick Faria

When the final whistle blew at Gaelic Park on Oct. 15, Manhattan University women’s soccer goalkeeper Molly Brunk stood in front of the net — smiling, exhausted and now officially in the record books.

The junior from Fairfax, Va., recorded her 18th career shutout in the Jaspers’ 1-0 win over Marist, breaking the all-time Manhattan College women’s soccer record for clean sheets.

“A bunch of hard work had paid off, it’s exciting when you can do something for your school and break an important record,” Brunk said via the school’s website.

Brunk made four saves in the victory, her third game this season with four or more stops. More importantly, the shutout kept Manhattan’s playoff hopes alive, bringing the team into a tie with Marist for fourth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, MAAC, standings with 16 points.

Her path to the milestone, though, was built on years of steady development and leadership. After earning just one clean sheet as a freshman, Brunk has become the backbone of Manhattan’s defense — her consistency between the posts helping define the team’s identity.

“I wouldn’t have been able to break this record without my teammates and my defense especially,” Brunk said. “They’ve kept shots to a minimal, breaking the record was great but it wouldn’t be possible without them.”

That defense was once again on display against Marist, junior Talia Omer and sophomore Lily Bandel both helped anchor the defensive unit, clocking a full 90 minutes on the pitch.

“Molly has been the foundation of this program from the second she stepped foot on campus,” said Jaspers’ head coach Brendan Lawler. “Shutouts are just as much team accomplishments as they are individual, but they start with her leadership and organization.” 

Brunk’s latest clean sheet not only adds to her growing resume but also highlights her leadership at a crucial point in the season. With the MAAC playoffs approaching, she and her teammates are keeping their focus sharp.

“We’re looking to get as many points as possible down the stretch, already treating every game like a playoff game,” Brunk said. “This year, we’re determined to make it even further than last year and make history for the program.”

Keywords

Molly Brunk shutout record,

Manhattan women’s soccer,

MAAC soccer standings,

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