Box Score
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – In a game that was rescheduled due to last week's snowstorm, the Manhattan offense was kept in the cold during a 17-6 loss at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) on Tuesday afternoon. The loss snapped a two game win streak for the Jaspers (3-6) who were playing their fifth road game in six contests.
CCSU began the scoring early as Betsey Vendel started things off with the first of her three goals. From there, the Blue Devils added three more to take a 4-0 lead with 21:54 remaining in the first half. Manhattan's Kelsey Rehain stopped the run with a goal eight minutes later to put her team on the board. However, CCSU would not allow another goal the rest of the half while adding five more of its own. Mackenzy Ryan scored two of those goals, helping the Blue Devils take a 9-1 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, CCSU added another quick goal from Falynn McCartney before Stefanie Ranagan added one of her own for the Jaspers. After a Blue Devil goal made it 11-2, Ranagan scored off another free-position shot to cut into the deficit with less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation. CCSU would then score three goals in the next six minutes to go up double digits, inducing a running clock.
Manhattan fought to get back into the game as Donna Jo DiNorcia and Clare Kerrisk combined for three of the next four goals, cutting the lead down to 15-6. It would too little, too late for the Jaspers who trailed by nine with 4:24 remaining after DiNorcia's second tally. CCSU would add two more goals from Amada Toke for the final margin.
Vendel led all players with seven points, four assists and three goals, while Rehain led the Jaspers with three points including two assists. Christina Fiorinelli made 13 saves in net for Manhattan, who was outshot 37-14 in the game. Morgan Tullar as only forced to make four saves in the contest as her defense held the Jaspers to just three shots in the first half.
CCSU also forced 23 turnovers by the Jaspers while only committing 14 of their own. Meanwhile, Manhattan picked up just 14 ground balls to the Blue Devils' 26. Both defenses were solid in transition as Manhattan held CCSU to 9-13 on clear attempts but the Blue Devils kept the Jaspers to just 9-12 on their tries.
Manhattan will return to action on Fri., March 29 when they host FresnoState at 3 p.m. at Gaelic Park.
