Offensive Outburst Lifts Manhattan To 3-1 Win Over Niagara

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Goals: Copping | Montefusco | Modena

Riverdale, NY - Manhattan scored twice in the first half before adding a late goal to defeat Niagara 3-1 in the MAAC opener for both teams at Gaelic Park.


With the win, the Jaspers improve 3-5 while the Purple Eagles fall to 1-5-1.

Senior Erica Modena (Massapequa, NY / Massapequa) paced the offense with a goal and an assist while freshman Arianna Montefusco (Levittown, NY / General Douglas MacArthur) and sophomore Nicole Copping (Blue Point, NY / Bayport-Blue Point) each found the back of the net for the first time this year.


In the 12th minute, Copping opened the scoring with this goal when she cut inside the defender before depositing the ball into the upper left corner.

Just over eight minutes later, Montefusco blasted this direct free kick from 20 yards out past the Niagara keeper.

The Purple Eagles briefly answered in the 31st minute when Hailey BIcknell blasted a shot to the left hand corner of the goal from 15 yards out.

After halftime, Niagara had its opportunities to draw even before Modena took advantage of a Purple Eagle miscue to deliver this knockout punch from 25 yards out on a direct kick.

Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week Olivia Printy (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL / St. Joseph Academy) made one save in notching her third victory of the year.

In defeat, Niagara owned advantages in shots (14-9) and corner kicks (5-1).

Manhattan is next in action at home against Monmouth on Saturday, September 24 with first kick tabbed for 1:00 pm.

Notes:
* Modena now has 21 goals, ranking in a tie for fourth in the all-time Manhattan annals. She also become just the fifth player in school history with 50 points with her second-half score.

* The Jaspers scored three goals after notching just three in seven non-conference games.

* Manhattan improves to 7-14-4, all-time, against Niagara with the win.