BUFFALO, N.Y. - Trailing 9-5 after three quarters, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team scored five goals in the fourth quarter to force overtime against Canisius on Saturday night. However, the comeback ultimately fell short, as the Griffs (1-4, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) scored at the 1:22 mark of the second extra session to post an 11-10 victory over the Jaspers (3-4, 1-1 MAAC) at the Demske Sports Complex.
After the Griffs scored five unanswered goals in the third quarter, Justin Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) started the Manhattan comeback with his goal 1:15 into the fourth quarter. Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) and Chace Calkin (Englewood, Colo.) scored seven seconds apart to make it a 9-8 game, but Jimmy Haney responded with a tally at the 10:37 mark to give Canisius a 10-8 advantage. James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) pulled the Jaspers within one with 6:41 remaining in regulation, then Jensen tied the game with a man-up goal with 1:47 left. Manhattan won the following face-off and got off two shots, but the last one was saved with 14 seconds to go and the game went to overtime.
Canisius had two shots hit the post in overtime, including one with three seconds left, but neither team found the back of the net and the game continued. Both teams had good scoring chances in the second overtime, and the Griffs' Simon Giourmetakis connected on one, tallying the game-winner with 1:22 remaining.
The Griffs led 2-0 and 4-1 before Manhattan scored the final three goals of the first half to send the contest into the intermission knotted at 4-4. The Jaspers took a 5-4 lead when Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.) connected with Variano for a man-up tally early in the third quarter, but Canisius responded with five straight goals to take its 9-5 advantage.
This marked the second straight season in which Manhattan fell to Canisius in overtime. The loss also snapped the Jaspers' four-game winning streak in conference road games. Jensen and Synowiez both had three goals for Manhattan. They each added an assist to complete a four-point day. Spatarella handed out three assists, and Variano notched a pair of goals. Jon Fiorillo (Painted Post, N.Y.) collected a team-high four ground balls, while Jensen, Calkin and Alex Grandal (Babylon, N.Y.) recored three ground balls apiece. Fiorillo (3-2) took the loss in net after making eight saves and surrendering 11 goals.
Haney had a hat trick to pace the Canisius offense, while Giourmetakis added a pair of goals. Adam Jones recorded four points (one goal, three assists) and Nick LoCoco tallied three points (one goal, two assists). Mike Rautenstrauch corralled a game-high seven ground balls, as the Griffs held a 37-25 advantage on the ground. Sean Callahan (1-4) made 13 saves and gave up 10 goals to earn the win.
Manhattan is back in action on Saturday, April 3, when MAAC rival VMI (2-7, 0-2 MAAC) comes to Gaelic Park for a 12 p.m. matchup. That game will be the start of a busy day of Manhattan athletic action. Following the lacrosse game, the softball team hosts Central Connecticut in a doubleheader, which gets underway at 3 p.m.