Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – On an unseasonably warm day, with temperatures in the low 80's, the Manhattan men's soccer team was stymied by cross-Bronx rival Fordham in the annual “Battle of the Bronx”. Despite outshooting the Rams (3-6-0), 11-7, the Jaspers (0-7-0) could not find an equalizer on Fordham's early second half goal.
The first half saw both teams try to battle not only each other, but the hot weather as well. The Rams would get the first opportunity for either team as Jack Bouchard's header went wide of the net in the 15th minute. Just over two minutes later Daniel Laguna Kennedy blasted a long shot that sailed up and over the crossbar for Manhattan. After he had another shot blocked by the Fordham defense, Alex Shackley missed high on an attempt of his own.
Perhaps the best chance for either squad came in the 40th minute when Dominic Chavez took the ball down the left sideline and looked for a cross. He fed a perfect pass to Eugene Heerschap who redirected the ball towards the back post. Fordham goalkeeper Alex Naples was able to deflect the ball just enough to send it wide of the net. Chavez almost put his team ahead in the 44th minute as he looked to beat Naples up top, but his shot was pushed over the crossbar, sending the game to halftime without a goal.
At the start of the second half, the Jaspers continued the aggressive play. Upon earning a corner kick, Laguna Kennedy's header was off the mark, giving Fordham a chance to counter. They would capitalize on that opportunity when Jon Agostino controlled the ball on the left side of the penalty area. He would move closer to the net before sending a shot that beat Alex Coates McDowall to the right for the 1-0 advantage.
The Rams would look for another goal but the Manhattan defense held strong while the offense tried for a tying score. Heerschap would put a shot on net that was saved by Naples in the 68th minute. In the final 10 minutes they took three more attempts but Tommy Amos missed high before Laguna Kennedy and Andrew Santos each sent a shot wide.
Laguna Kennedy led all players on the day with four shots while Heerschap was the only Jasper to place one on net, having both attempts get saved. Manhattan also earned four corners while the Rams took three. The Jaspers also saw two players receive yellow cards as both Amos and Stefano Carlacci each earned cautions.
Manhattan is back in action when they enter Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Saturday. The Jaspers will travel to Buffalo, N.Y. for a 1 p.m. contest against Canisius.
