Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - In a game full of action on both ends, Manhattan rallied to tie Columbia twice in the second half but the Lions ended a 2-2 deadlock exactly one minute into the second overtime to earn a 3-2 win at Gaelic Park on Friday night.
In its first game of the year, Columbia attacked early and often in the opening minutes. After a Manhattan corner kick, the Lions countered and gained possession deep in the Jaspers' end. Chelsea Ryan threw a long ball in from out of bounds that found the foot of Phoenitia Browne. Browne then found Kimmy Bettinger, who crossed it to Alexa Yow on the far side of the field. Yow then one-timed the ball into the back of the net to give Columbia an early 1-0 lead.
The rest of the first half was played at a high level, with Columbia earning eight corner kicks but the Manhattan back line of Shannon Barry, Taylor Salkowsky and Sam Washuk and senior goalkeeper Maria Sanzari, in her first start of the season, were able to hold the Lions at bay.
Trailing 1-0 to begin the second half, the Jaspers attacked as quickly as Columbia did in the opening half. Five minutes into the half, Erica Modena broke free down the left side. Modena was able to sprint past the Columbia defense and fire a shot on goal that Lion keeper Grace Redmon deflected aside. However, Manhattan's Tara Teal was able to gather the rebound and find the back of the net to even the score at 1-1.
The tie score did not last long though. Eight minutes later, Columbia's Natalie Melo and Beverly Leon created a two on one situation deep in Manhattan territory. Melo passed back to Leon, who fired one into the upper right-hand corner of the goal to hand the lead back to the Lions, 2-1.
Again, Manhattan responded. In the 68th minute, Janie Schlauder drew a penalty in the box after going to goal. Modena stepped up to take the penalty kick but her hard shot was tipped away by Redmon.
Manhattan continued its pressure and caused a turnover in the Columbia back with 15 minutes to play. Again it was Modena in the middle of the action, finding the loose ball and sliding one past Redmon to even the score for the second time in the half.
Sanzari made two saves in the final five minutes to preserve the tie as the match headed into overtime. In overtime, Manhattan's Martine Diamond had the first shot, but it was blocked by a Lion defender. With two minutes left in the first overtime, Leon had a chance but her shot from 15 yards out hit the side of the netting as play continued into a second overtime.
On Columbia's first attack of the second overtime, the Lions' Elly McGuffog sent a through ball to Alexa Yow, who found Natalie Melo down the right side. At a tough angle, Melo whipped one into the lower corner of the goal, giving the Lions the 3-2 victory.
"Even though we take a loss, we were able to raise our level against an excellent team," Manhattan head coach Brendan Lawler said after the hard-fought match. "Going forward, we'll be better off because of it."
The Jaspers return to action on Sunday, September 8 at Rhode Island for a 1 p.m. match.
NOTES:
The goals by Erica Modena and Tara Teal were the first collegiate goals for each freshman ... the Lions had 11 corner kicks to the Jaspers' three but Columbia held a slim 8-7 edge in shots on goal ... the last Manhattan match that ended in a draw was a scoreless draw against Fairfield on October 14, 2011 ... Columbia has won the last 11 meetings in the series but tonight's match was the first one that went into overtime during that span ... the match started under sunny skies and a temperature of 70 degrees but the temperature dipped into the low 60s at the end of the match, which lasted two hours and 16 minutes.
