Box Score
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Playing in their final Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game of the 2013 season, the Manhattan women's lacrosse team dropped an 11-10 decision at Niagara on Saturday. It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Jaspers (4-12, 1-5 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles (5-10, 1-4 MAAC) picked up their first league win.
Manhattan had to use multiple rallies against Niagara, who were celebrating their Senior Day. After Donna Jo DiNorcia scored just 16 seconds into the game, the Purple Eagles scored five of the next six goals to lead 5-2 with 18:28 left in the first half. Kelsey Rehain, who scored the lone goal for the Jaspers in that stretch, snapped a four goal Niagara run with her second tally of the game. Carrie-Jo Farrugia found the back of the net to put the Eagles up 6-3 before Manhattan went on a stretch of their own.
DiNorcia and Carly Eskenazi went back-to-back for the Jaspers before Stefanie Ranagan and Rehain reeled off consecutive goals following a Fran Pollastro score that tied the game at 7-7 heading into halftime. Manhattan scored four of their first half goals on free-position shots while taking 19 total attempts.
In the second frame, a two goal spurt from Niagara would eventually prove to be the distance needed. Maria Battista and Danielle Maio scored less than three minutes apart, making it a 9-7 game with still twenty minutes to play in regulation. Unfortunately, the Jaspers would be unable to answer that deficit with both squads trading goals the rest of the way.
Ranagan cut the deficit down to one before Farrugia answered. Megan Yarusso again made it a one goal game with 8:10 to play in the second, but Manhattan couldn't find the equalizer. Following Battista's third goal of the game, Ranagan found the net for her second tally, with just 17 seconds to play, making it an 11-10 score.
Both Ranagan and Rehain led the Jaspers with three goals each while Farruigia had four to lead all players. Manhattan was able to win 13 of 23 draws as Ranagan won five. Sophomore Christina Fiorinelli made six saves for the Jaspers while Paige Sasser stopped 13 shots for Niagara.
Manhattan will conclude their 2013 campaign on Fri., April 26 when they visit Columbia.
