Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan women's soccer team dropped its final game of the regular-season falling 1-0 to Loyola (13-4-2, 9-0 MAAC) on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. Greyhounds' senior forward Theresa Ferraina scored the game winning goal in the 36th minute, the 24 goal of her career. Manhattan (7-9-2, 2-5-2 MAAC) enters the 2009 MAAC Championships as the #9 seed and will face #8 Rider (7-10-1, 3-6 MAAC) in the opening round on Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
"It was a much better performance today after our disappointing effort on Friday," stated Manhattan head coach Sean Driscoll. "Give Loyola great credit for an undefeated conference season. It is truly an impressive accomplishment."
With just over nine minutes remaining in the first half, Loyola senior Christina Gomez worked up the right side of field and found freshman Nichole Schiro who delivered the cross that Ferraina finished on. The goal put Ferraina in a fourth place tie on Loyola's career scoring list.
Manhattan outshot the Greyhounds 6-5 in the second half, but could not find the equalizer. Four of the Lady Jaspers' seven shots in the match were placed on goal, but Loyola goalkeeper Brittany Henderson made the saves to secure her ninth shutout of the season.
Lady Jaspers' senior midfielder Courtney McMahon had Manhattan's best scoring opportunity with just over 15 minutes remaining when she sent a shot just high of the crossbar. Freshman goalkeeper Kara Davis patrolled the pipes for all 90 minutes and made three saves.
"Now we must prepare for what should be a very exciting MAAC Tournament," Driscoll emphasized. "With so much parody, there are sure to be some upsets this year."
Manhattan and Rider will be the second game of the tournament's opening round Thursday. Kick off is set for 2 p.m. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to take on top-seeded Loyola. The winner of the MAAC Championships will earn an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA College Cup.
