RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Coming off a 10-6 victory at Presbyterian on Tuesday, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team (2-4, 0-1 MAAC) looks to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when it visits VMI (1-6, 0-1 MAAC) in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon. The Jaspers and Keydets, two of the four teams that advanced to last season's MAAC Tournament, will square off at Foster Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.
Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) paced the Manhattan offense with three goals in the win over Presbyterian. Variano is currently second on the team in both goals (10) and points (16). James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) leads the Jaspers with 12 goals and 19 points. Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) is 49-45 on faceoffs and has collected a team-leading 28 ground balls. John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) has started five games in goal and has made a team-high 46 saves, while Troy Orzech (Franktown, Colo.) earned the win in relief on Tuesday to move to 2-0 on the season. Manhattan lost to Mount St. Mary's, 12-9, last Saturday in its MAAC opener.
The Keydets dropped a 7-6 decision to Providence in their MAAC opener last Saturday. VMI's only victory was a 9-7 win over Presbyterian on Feb. 21, and the Keydets have also taken on national powers Navy and Virginia this season. Tim Moran, a First Team All-MAAC selection last season, leads the Keydets with nine goals and 13 points. Jacob Weimer has eight goals and 10 points, while Stephen Robarge leads VMI with 21 ground balls. Sean McCoy and Alex Benedick have both seen time in goal, with McCoy seeing a majority of the action. He has started six games and made 52 saves on the season.
In last year's regular season finale in Riverdale, the Jaspers knocked off the Keydets 8-7 in double overtime to clinch their first berth in the MAAC Tournament since 2004. Manhattan holds a 7-2 edge in the all-time series and has won five straight against VMI.
