Abbatiello Nets Equalizer; Men’s Soccer Settles for Draw with Saint Peter’s

RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Men's Soccer team (4-7-3, 3-3-2 MAAC) settled for a 1-1 draw against the Peacocks of Saint Peter's University (4-8-2, 2-5-1 MAAC) from Gaelic Park on Wednesday evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Keeping its foot on the gas pedal were the Jaspers as its playoff push rolls on through the final week of the season. The Green and White entered the evening sitting with 10 points in the final spot in the MAAC table.
• Getting things started was James Lucas, who posted the first shot of the match just high, before the Peacocks rattled off seven consecutive attempts and tested Manhattan's resiliency. Senior goalkeeper Ludvig Malberg logged five saves in as many on target, before the Jaspers closed out the first half with one final attempt from Paul Abbatiello.
• Minutes into the second half, the Peacocks found its rhythm quickly and found the back of the net off a cross into the box before Saint Peter's capitalized on a header.
• In response, the Jaspers' James Lucas fired off three shots, before Manhattan cluttered the box and Abbatiello headed an attempt just millimeters over the fingertips of the opposing goalkeeper to equalize the fixture at one.
• One final attempt down the stretch for Manhattan was unsuccessful as the Jaspers were called for offsides with 10 seconds remaining.

STATS AND NOTES

• Redshirt junior defender Paul Abbatiello netted his first collegiate goal in the 74^th minute of the fixture to equalize the score at one, on two shots in 84 minutes.
• Graduate midfielder Henry Hamilton added one assist to his ledger with two attempted shots in a full 90 minutes on the pitch.
• Senior midfielder James Lucas paced the Green and White in the attempt category with four in 74 minutes of match time.
• Senior goalkeeper Ludvig Malberg surrendered one goal, while posting six saves on 15 shots faced in 90 minutes along his line.
• The Jaspers remain in the playoff hunt with 11 points, and remain in the final postseason spot in the MAAC table. 

NEXT UP
The Green and White are back in action on Saturday, November 1, when the Jaspers trek northbound to face the Red Foxes of Marist University inside Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field to continue its conference slate, beginning at 6 p.m. This match can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

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