Jaspers Top Hawks, 13-7

Box Score 

PHILADELPHIA ? In each of the last two seasons, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team has needed overtime to defeat Saint Joseph's.  No extra period was necessary this year, however, as Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.), James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) and Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) each recorded a hat trick to lead the Jaspers (6-6, 2-2 MAAC) to a 13-7 victory over the Hawks (4-7, 2-3 MAAC) in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Finnesey Field on Saturday afternoon.

The game was played throughout a steady rain, and both teams struggled to find their footing early.  Manhattan finally broke through for the game's first goal when Spatarella scored at the 4:02 mark of the first quarter.  Saint Joseph's tied it up less than a minute later on an unassisted tally by Joey D'Avanzo, but Spatarella took a feed from Justin Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and found the back of the net with 22 seconds left in the quarter to give the Jaspers a 2-1 lead after one.

Variano increased Manhattan's lead to 3-1 with a man-up goal in the first minute of the second quarter, but Saint Joseph's immediately responded, getting a goal from Sean Evans 14 seconds later to make it 3-2.  After Variano scored his second goal of the quarter, Ian Kelly found the back of the net for the Hawks to again cut Manhattan's lead to one, 4-3.  The Jaspers won the ensuing faceoff and Synowiez raced down, took a feed from Variano, and brought the lead back to two, but Saint Joseph's scored the final two goals of the half to send the contest into the break tied at 5-5.

Spatarella put the Jaspers back in front with a tally at the 13:47 mark of the third quarter, then Synowiez again gave Manhattan a two-goal lead with his score at the 3:15 mark.  Brendan Burke scored for Saint Joseph's to again pull the Hawks within one at 7-6, but Manhattan scored the next four goals (and five of the next six) to seize control.  The Jaspers scored twice in the final minute of the third quarter, as first Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) found the back of the net, then Synowiez added a man-up tally 16 seconds later.

Jensen scored twice early in the fourth quarter to increase Manhattan's lead to 11-6 before Evans tallied his second goal of the contest for Saint Joseph's at the 7:45 mark.  That's all the Hawks would get, however, as the Jaspers tacked on a pair of goals.  First Perrotto notched a man-up tally, Manhattan's third of the game, with 4:50 remaining, then Variano, who transferred to Manhattan this season after two years at Philadelphia's Drexel University, completed his hat trick with 1:52 left in the contest.

Synowiez finished with a game-high five points, notching two assists to go along with his three goals.  Spatarella and Variano each completed a four-point afternoon by adding an assist.  Jensen also had a four-point day with two goals and two assists, while Perrotto scored Manhattan's other two goals.  Manhattan went 3-for-9 on man-up opportunities in the game.  The Jaspers also outshot the Hawks 33-32 and outscored Saint Joseph's 8-2 in the second half.  Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) led the Jaspers with a game-high seven ground balls, while John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) (4-6) made 17 saves to earn the win in goal.

Kelly led the Hawks with three points (two goals, one assist), while Evans tallied two goals.  D'Avanzo and Burke each posted a goal and an assist for Saint Joseph's.  Ryan Tessler corralled six ground balls, as the Hawks held a 24-22 advantage on the ground.  Paul Crisafulli caused three Manhattan turnovers.  Erik Hotaling (4-7) took the loss after making nine saves in goal.