RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Soccer team (9-2-3, 6-1-3 Metro), improving to 6-0-1 at Gaelic Park, grabbed a crucial win over the Stags from Fairfield (9-6-1, 7-3-0 Metro) by a final score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Gaelic Park. The win breaks an eight-match losing streak to Fairfield, and snaps a nearly ten-year drought at Gaelic Park, with Manhattan last winning in Riverdale on October 26, 2016.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Molly Brunk saw the first bits of action on the day, recording two saves within the first nine minutes.
- Manhattan turned around to apply the offensive pressure on their end, with Olivia McMaster and Lauren Ahearn each firing off shots, as the latter forced a save from Fairfield's Alyssa Gluting in the 14th minute.
- Brunk was forced to make two more saves as the half wore on, stopping chances from both Ashley McMahon and Kelly O'Connor.
- The defense stood tall the rest of the way, holding a 1-0 edge for the home team in time for the halftime horn.
- Just 20 seconds out of the locker rooms, Baileigh Johnson and Ahearn found a chance in the offensive zone, with Ahearn just sneaking it through on the left side to double the lead at 2-0.
- A little more than five minutes later, the Stags brought themselves back into the contest after a score from Ashlyn Walsh.
- Neither side could find a way to break through for the next 20 minutes, as the Green and White held strong on the defensive front.
- With the scoreboard showing less than 20 seconds in regulation, McMaster ran down the right side of the pitch and fired a shot at the 74th minute that pinged off the left post.
- Immediately rolling out to the newcomer, Ava Boffalo quickly controlled the ball and fired home the rebound, giving Manhattan a massive insurance goal to take another two-score advantage.
- In the 81st minute, the visitors sent in three shots towards Brunk, with the first two saved and the final going off the top crossbar, preserving the lead for the Jaspers.
- Manhattan bled the clock the rest of the way, breaking a nine-year winless streak against Fairfield.
STATS AND NOTES
- Senior forward Lauren Ahearn scored her second game-winning goal of the week, adding her eighth to this season's total, still leading the Jaspers.
- Freshmen forwards Baileigh Johnson and Ava Boffalo punched in the other scores for the Green and White, the first collegiate goal for Boffalo.
- Senior goalkeeper Molly Brunk collected six saves in the 29th win of her career, extending her program record.
- Senior defender Talia Omer, midfielder Mary Trudeau, Sophomore defender Eryn Primus, and Graduate midfielder Marlene Berlinghoff each logged a full 90 minutes on the pitch.
- Manhattan lost the shot battle to Fairfield in spite of the win, losing 17-12 and 7-5 in the on-target category.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
- Head Coach Brendan Lawler: "We have a team and that's what worked out for us today. Four people out with the flu, two people injured, multiple people stepping up like Ava [Boffalo] and Gianna Fucile when we need them. It's why you do this, want teams to pull through with each other and it's awesome to see it. It's what the program's built on."
- Lawler on wrapping up the regular season: "One game at a time. You can't win a championship in the next game, or even make the playoffs in the next game. What we're worried about is people getting healthy and feeling good. Just giving our unquestionable effort they give to each other all the time and being one foot in front of the next."
- Senior Lauren Ahearn on her goal: "I knew I had to take the opportunity and I saw a little gap of space, I decided to hit it with my left since it's kinda been working lately, Baileigh [Johnson] offered a really good ball over the top and I was able to just get a touch."
- Ahearn on her teammates' performances: "It was 100% every single minute. I'm just so proud of everyone who stepped up, I told Ava [Boffalo] how proud I am of her, it's so awesome to see the younger generation step up in the times we need it the most."
NEXT UP
- Lawler and the Jaspers will hit the road next week when they head to Western New York to take on the Golden Griffins from Canisius. Action from Buffalo is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m., and can be streamed live on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Follow Manhattan Women's Soccer on Instagram and X (@JaspersWSOC).
