Riverdale, N.Y. (October 14, 2007)- Niagara University posted a 2-1 win over Manhattan this morning at Gaelic Park. Courtney McMahon produced the tally for the Lady Jaspers, who stand at 5-4-4 (2-1-1 MAAC). The Purple Eagles improve to 8-5-0 (3-1-0 MAAC).
Niagara applied the early pressure, and tallied the game's first goal in the sixth minute. Natalie Front fed Stephanie Gartley into a one-vs.-one situation with the Manhattan keeper, and put the ball to the far post to end the Lady Jaspers' scoreless minutes streak at 615:42, a school record. Manhattan net minder Alicia DeFino's school record scoreless minutes steak ended at 581:36.
The Lady Jaspers responded to the early tally with a score of their own, knotting the match at 1-1 exactly nine minutes later. Courtney McMahon registered her second goal of the season with a nice individual effort, eluding a defender and depositing the ball to the far post.
The score remained deadlocked into the break, with Manhattan holding a 6-5 advantage in shots, and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Niagara turned up the pressure in the second half, applying constant pressure on the offensive end. That pressure resulted in the game-winning goal, when Brittany Bisnott passed the ball to Gartley, who scored her second goal of the match in the 54th minute.
The Purple Eagles held a 6-1 advantage in shots over the second 45 minutes, but DeFino kept the Lady Jaspers within a tally with four second half saves, finishing with six on the day.
"This result is indicitive of the way the game went," noted head coach Sean Driscoll. "Niagara was well prepared and did a great job pressure and being disruptive behind our defensive line. I was disappointed that we didn't come out with a better effort given the situation presented to us related to the MAAC standings."
Manhattan continues MAAC play next weekend, taking on Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19, before taking on Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 21.
