Manhattan University Athletics

Buffalo, N.Y. (April 20, 2007)-- Manhattan Women's Lacrosse moved one step closer to qualifying for next weekend's four-team MAAC Tournament on Friday night.  Alicia Psillos netted the game winner for the Jaspers with 4:47 remaining in regulation, while goalie Ashley Devins slammed the door shut in the final minutes to preserve an 11-10 victory over Canisius College at the Demske Sports complex.

 

Manhattan's win coupled with Siena's 13-9 loss to Fairfield means the Jaspers (4-10, 3-3 MAAC) need only to win their regular season finale at Niagara on Sunday to return to the MAAC Tournament yet again.

 

With the game deadlocked at 10, Psillos came around the left side of the cage and buried her fourth goal of the evening into the top far corner of the net.  Then, the Jasper defense, powered by Devins and fellow senior Katelyn Williams, prevented the Canisius attack from finding the equalizer.

 

The Golden Griffin's best opportunity to send the game into overtime came when Canisius' Marissa Brown slipped behind the defense with 1:54 remaining and ripped a point-blank shot toward the Manhattan net that Devins calmly turned aside.  The save was the veteran netminder's  15^th of the contest.

 

Williams, who picked up a groundball that led to the game-winning goal, made her biggest play of the night in the waning seconds of the first half.  With under a minute to play in the opening period and the score tied at 6-6, the senior intercepted a pass at the Manhattan end of the field and raced up the far left side, passing off to Jill McGowan.  McGowan then quickly found Lauren Civardi who put the ball past Canisius goalie Erica Nasca.  Civardi, a senior, also scored two more on the day for the hat trick.

 

“Katelyn [Williams] made tremendous play that gave us the edge going into the half,” said head coach Jim Drivas.  “That was only one instance though, she came up big time after time.  It was obvious that she didn't want her season to end today.”

 

Manhattan carried the momentum into the second half as Psillos extended the Jasper lead to 8-6 only 42 seconds into the period.

 

Canisius quickly countered with a draw control win and Chelsea Martinez goal only 17 seconds later.

 

The Golden Griffins tied at 8-8 when Awehiyo Thomas scored 9:48 into the second half, and took the lead exactly four minutes later on a Brett Poissant goal.

 

Manhattan senior Jenny Carman pulled the Jaspers even once again on her second goal of the game made it 9-9 with 15:46 to play.

 

Senior Brenna Tinari put Manhattan ahead when she found the back of the net with 9:32 left in the game.

 

The Jaspers will take on Niagara on Sunday, April 22 with a MAAC Tournament bid on the line.  Face-off is at noon.