Manhattan University Athletics

GREENVALE, NY – The Manhattan College women's lacrosse team (2-5) got off to a fast start, then held off a furious comeback attempt by LIU Brooklyn to post a 15-12 victory over the Blackbirds (2-5) at Pearsall Field on Saturday afternoon.  The contest was originally scheduled to be played on the LIU Brooklyn campus, but was moved due to field conditions caused by the winter storm earlier this week.

Despite the wintry conditions, the Jaspers jumped out to a 3-0 lead barely four minutes into the contest.  After LIU Brooklyn's Jenn Peters scored twice to cut the margin to two, 4-2, free position goals by Darby Nolan (Oak Ridge, NJ) and Caitlin Murphy (Carmel, NY) less than a minute apart sparked a 4-0 Manhattan rally that extended the Jaspers' cushion to 8-2 midway through the first half.

LIU Brooklyn pulled within 10-5 before Emily Sandford (Floral Park, NY) and Kara Hodapp (Oak Ridge, NJ) found the back of the net to put Manhattan in front 12-5 at halftime.  However, the Blackbirds scored three times in the first 2:18 of the second half to trim their deficit to four, 12-8.

Manhattan responded with three straight tallies, though.  Hodapp connected with Sandford at the 24:43 mark, then Molly Fitzpatrick (Yorktown, NY) found the back of the net five minutes later.  Sandford scored again (her fourth goal of the game) to make it 15-8 with 16:37 left.  The Blackbirds mounted a late comeback attempt, scoring the final four goals of the contest, but the Jaspers held on for the 15-12 victory.

Fitzpatrick had five points in the game with four goals and an assist.  Sandford also registered four goals, including the game-winner, to go along with four ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Hodapp finished with two goals, two assists and five draw controls.  Murphy added two goals, two assists and four draw controls, and Molly Flores (Chevy Chase, MD) controlled five draws.  Emily Englert (Somers, NY), meanwhile, picked up four ground balls while also notching a goal and an assist.  Nikki Prestiano (Yorktown Heights, NY) (2-3) made 12 saves in goal to earn the win.

For the Blackbirds, Peters led the way with five goals.  Tori Shinkowitz collected eight ground balls and caused four turnovers while also contributing four points (two goals, two assists).  Bianca Santucci added two goals of her own, and Sierra O'Connor finished with five ground balls and six caused turnovers.  In addition to securing five ground balls, goalkeeper Virginia Gibbons (2-5) stopped five Manhattan shots.