RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Men's Lacrosse team (2-9, 0-5 MAAC) fell to the Warriors of Merrimack College (4-8, 3-3 MAAC) by a score of 11-9 inside Gaelic Park on Friday morning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams opened the contest by trading nearly 7 combined shots before Ryan Beller scooped up the ground ball and cleared it down the field for Manhattan.
- Then, the Green and White took advantage of the extra man opportunity with Sean Shelko finding the back of the net courtesy of Tyler Mosca's pass inside.
- In the second quarter, after the Warriors tied the game at one, Liam Peabody pushed the Jaspers ahead of Merrimack two minutes in.
- After facing three shots, Ryan Beller and the Jaspers were able to stymie any further threat, and clear for Jack Miller, who fed a pass to Alex Bales for his second of the season, and a two-goal advantage.
- Within the next minute, the Warriors rang off three consecutive goals, before the Jaspers found the back of the net and stopped the bleeding with a Thomas White power play goal to tie the game at four.
- In the waning seconds of the first half, Merrimack leaped in front with the go-ahead goal with three seconds remaining and headed to the locker room with momentum.
- The Warriors began the third quarter with two goals to spread their margin to three, before Gavin Wolf forced Merrimack to turn the ball over and find Miller for the team's fifth goal of the game with just under five minutes.
- In the fourth quarter, the Jaspers turned on the jets with two quick goals from Miller and Connor Engel within three minutes to tie the game at seven. The latter goal came from a caused turnover by Matthew Cleary, leading to a pair of opportunities for the Green and White before Engel capitalized on the third chance.
- Seconds later, the Warriors opened a stretch of three goals in two and a half minutes to go ahead by three over Manhattan.
- The Jasper responded 57 seconds later with a Thomas White marker, but the Warriors posted the dagger with five and a quarter minutes.
STATS AND NOTES
- Redshirt Junior faceoff specialist Casey Klossner logged eight face off wins in 21 total attempts, while scooping nine ground balls on the night.
- Sophomore midfielder Thomas White added three goals on eight shots, with six on target, and scooped one ground ball.
- Freshman defender Michael Medici scooped three ground balls and caused three turnovers in the contest.
- Redshirt sophomore midfielder Jack Miller supplied two goals and two assists on as many shots on goal.
- Senior midfielder Liam Peabody registered one goal and two assists on six shots with four on target.
- Coming off an emotional equalizer in the previous contest against the Mount, redshirt junior attack Sean Shelko followed suit with a goal on three shots, while scooping four ground balls.
- Redshirt sophomore midfielder Alex Bales added his second goal of the year on two shots on target.
- Junior attack Connor Engel posted one goal and one assist on three shots on goal and grabbed one ground ball.
- Redshirt sophomore goalie Ryan Beller led the way for the Green and White with 14 saves on the afternoon.
- Finally, Manhattan went 2-for-4 on extra-man opportunities.
NEXT UP:
The Jaspers continue their campaign on Saturday, April 11, when the Red Foxes of Marist University come to Gaelic Park for a special 7 p.m. opening faceoff. The contest marks the annual HEADstrong Foundation Game and can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Follow Manhattan Jaspers' Men's Lacrosse on X (@ManhattanMLAX) and Instagram (@ManhattanLax)
