Box Score
BRONX, N.Y. - As the skies cleared over Jack Coffey Field prior to kickoff, Manhattan and Fordham continued a storm of aggression on the pitch. A fast paced contest saw the Jaspers (0-7-1) fall to Fordham 1-0 in overtime in the annual "Battle of the Bronx".
At the start of the contest, the Rams controlled tempo by holding possession in the attacking zone for the beginning portions of the match. Manhattan would test the waters early with two long shots that missed the goal as Kevan Lewis blasted one high while Alex Shackley went wide left from 20 yards out.
Fordham (4-3-1) would get a brilliant chance as Ryan Walsh launched a header from six yards out that hit the crossbar to keep the game scoreless. Just two minutes later Reese Akers placed a corner kick to the far post that C.J. Dragovich headed right on net but the Rams Sean Brailey made the save.
Brailey would make three more impressive stops in the 26th minute when Eric Mavakala laced a shot off a free kick and Lewis put two consecutive rebounds on net that were deflected, helping send the game into the half knotted at zero.
In the second half it would be more of the same witch each team taking turns as the aggressor. In the 72nd minute, Jake Scavetta had a point blank shot on the goal line that was saved by Brailey. After the Manhattan corner, the Rams came on the offensive with Tommy Granot getting a chance that Ellis was able to corral.
Daniel Festa would be called for a handball in the 83rd minute just outside the box, but Kalle Sotka would blast a free kick from 25 yards out just over the crossbar. Eugene Heerschap would get the final quality chance of regulation time as he put a curling free kick on net from 30 yards out in the 88th minute, but Brailey again was up to the task sending the game to overtime.
As both teams looked for the golden goal, Fordham would take possession in the offensive half and Ollie Kelly would place a through ball to the right side of the net. Ellis came out of the box to cut down the angle but Kyle Bitterman was able to beat him to the near left side for the game winning contest in the 98th minute.
Each team finished with 12 total shots, with Manhattan putting six on goal to the Rams five. There were a total of 32 fouls called on each team in the physical match with Fordham's Kelly and Mavakala each receiving cautions. Ellis made a total of four saves for the Jaspers while Brailey stopped six shots in the shutout.
Manhattan will be back in action next week when they begin Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Fri., Oct. 5 when they visit Marist.
