RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan College men's lacrosse team (3-4), the winners of back-to-back games for the first time this season, looks to extend its winning streak to three when Air Force (3-4) visits Gaelic Park on Tuesday night. The 7 p.m. contest, the Jaspers' only home night game of the season, is the second game of a Manhattan lacrosse doubleheader. The women's team hosts UC Davis at 3:30 p.m.
Manhattan knocked off Presbyterian 10-6 last Tuesday, then posted an 11-6 MAAC win over VMI on Saturday. James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) had four points, including three goals, against VMI and leads the Jaspers with 23 points. Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) is second on the team with 11 goals and 18 points. Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) has collected a team-leading 29 ground balls and boasts a 51-50 record on faceoffs. Goalkeeper John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) picked up his first win of the season after making 15 saves in the VMI game. Geagan has a goals against average of 10.82 and a save percentage of .517.
Air Force has alternated wins and losses through its first seven games, losing 9-2 to Bucknell on Saturday. Vinny Sandtorv and K.J. Landgraf lead the Falcons with 12 and 11 goals, respectively, while Ridge Flick has a team-high 15 points (eight goals, seven assists). Four Falcons have gathered 20 or more ground balls, led by Bryan Gilbreath's 28. Gilbreath is also tied for the team lead with seven caused turnovers. Five different goalkeepers have seen action for Air Force, with Matt Sanders making three starts between the pipes.
The Jaspers and Falcons last met on Feb. 26, 2006, when Manhattan posted a 5-4 overtime victory in the University of Denver Pioneer Classic. Manhattan leads the all-time series 3-1.
Tuesday night's contest is the first game of a season-long three-game homestand for the Jaspers. Manhattan hosts Siena at 1 p.m. on Saturday, then Sacred Heart comes to Gaelic Park next Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
