Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's lacrosse team fell to Quinnipiac, 8-6, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Gaelic Park on Saturday night.
With the loss, the Jaspers drop to 1-11 overall, including 0-3 in conference play. The Bobcats improve to 3-7, and 2-2 against MAAC opponents.
The start of the game was delayed for approximately 35 minutes, as the Quinnipiac bus broke down on the way to Riverdale, requiring the team to switch to a different one.
With Manhattan leading 5-2 entering the final quarter of play, the Bobcats offense erupted for six goals, including the game's last five tallies, to exit Gaelic Park with a two-goal victory.
Junior faceoff man Connor Devane won five draws in the final fifteen minutes of play to earn extra offensive opportunities for a streaking Quinnipiac attacking unit.
Senior Michael Sagl, who scored a game-high four points, scored two goals over the stretch. Junior Ryan Keenan recorded a hat trick in the game and netted twice in the fourth quarter for the Bobcats.
The Jaspers played very well on both sides of the ball through three quarters. Manhattan's best spurt of the game came over the latter stages of the second quarter and throughout the third stanza, when the team went on a 3-0 run.
Sophomore Matt Garvey (Essex Fells, N.J. / Essex Fells) scored with 3:02 to play in the first half to provide the Jaspers with a 3-2 edge at the break. In the third quarter, senior Marcel Godino (Summit, N.J. / Summit) and sophomore Nick Strano (Rocky Point, N.Y. / Rocky Point) struck to put the Jaspers up by three, at 5-2. Junior Stephen Farrell (Loudonville, N.Y. / Shaker) scored the lone Manhattan goal of the final frame.
Strano (2G) and Godino (1G, 1A) led the Jasper's offense.
Freshman Frank Merrill (Mountain Lakes, N.J. / Mountain Lakes) opened Manhattan's scoring on the evening with a shoveled goal from right in front of cage just 3:15 in. The score marked the first of Merrill's collegiate career. Defensively, he collected four ground balls, ranking second to only freshman goalkeeper Michael Zingaro (Cortland Manor, NY. / Walter Panas), who picked up a team-high five.
The Jaspers return to action on Saturday, April 11, when they travel to Loudonville, N.Y., to take on MAAC foe Siena. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.