Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan women's soccer team came up on the short end of a 1-0 decision at Rhode Island (1-0-1) on Friday in the Jaspers' 2011 season opener. Jaspers' junior goalkeeper Kara Davis delivered a valiant effort posting a game-high seven saves, but it was Rams' senior forward Stephanie Santos who notched the decisive strike in the 39th minute.
Santos was able to break through the Jaspers' defense with just over six minutes remaining in the first half. She beat her defender down the left side and finished cross net on an assist from freshman forward Marisa Ammaturo. The Rams peppered Davis with 24 shots to Manhattan's six attempts.
After allowing 16 shots in the first 45 minutes of the 2011 season, the Manhattan defense anchored by senior Claire Reinhard settled in during the second half. The unit limited the Rams to only eight more shots with just one targeted on goal. The effort kept Manhattan within striking distance as the Jaspers fired four shots in the final nine minutes of action, but could not come up with the game tying strike.
Rhode Island freshman goalkeeper Reilly Lindsey secured the first victory of her career in the shutout effort. Davis' seven saves marked the fourth time in the last five games dating back to last season that she made seven or more stops in a match.
Manhattan has six days to regroup before returning to Rhode Island to face Bryant in Smithfield, R.I. The Jaspers and Bulldogs meet in the non-conference affair on Friday at 1 p.m.
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