Baltimore, Md. (October 5, 2007)- Manhattan knew it had a stern test in its MAAC opener, taking on the conference's preseason favorite, Loyola College, on the road, but the Lady Jaspers proved up to the task, as the two sides played to a 0-0 draw this afternoon at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field.
After dropping 13 of its first 14 contests against the perennial MAAC power, Manhattan has now produced results in each of the last two meetings, adding this result to a 2-1, double-overtime, win last season.
The Lady Jaspers' best chance in the first half came on shot by Caroline Morse in the 25th minute. The rookie midfielder drove a hard shot that Loyola keeper Brittany Henderson saved at full-extension, falling to her left. The Greyhounds held a 7-3 advantage in shot over the first 45 minutes, with each net minder recording two saves.
The second half had more shots, and better offensive action, with Loyola's best opportunity came in the 54th minute. After Manhattan thwarted a corner kick, Christina Gomez took a pass from the right side and stuck a hard shot from left to right. Lady Jasper goalkeeper Alicia DeFino punched the shot away with her left hand, and it deflected off the post. The Greyhounds' Lea Day got the rebound and drove a hard shot right at DeFino, who gobbled up the ball for the save.
Gomez had another good chance in the first overtime period. She turned with the ball and hit a shot, but again DeFino stood tall.
Manhattan's best chance in overtime came in the second 10 minutes, as Courtney McMahon flicked a ball off her head toward goal that Henderson saved.
DeFino, was has received MAAC Defensive Player of the Week as well as ECAC D1 Defensive Player of the Week accolades each of the last two weeks, tallied nine saves on the day, while Henderson recorded five. DeFino added her fourth consecutive clean sheet, and extended her school-record stretch of consecutive minutes without allowing a goal to 414:52.
Morse tallied six shots (four on frame) to pace the Manhattan offense.
"On the heels of last year's upset win over Loyola at Gaelic Park, I am very pleased we were able to come down to Baltimore to open up MAAC play and leave with a result," noted head coach Sean Driscoll. "We played defensively with a lot of passion, and we created some chances to score on offense against a very good Loyola team. Alicia (DeFino) come up big for us in goal again, and we were able to extend our scoreless minutes streak."
The Lady Jaspers return to the pitch on Sunday, October 7, traveling to Lawrenceville, N.J. to take on Rider University in a MAAC match slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.
