Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan moved to 3-0 in MAAC play with a 14-9 win over Canisius at Gaelic Park on Saturday.
 
Manhattan (6-2, 3-0 MAAC) remains the only unbeaten team in MAAC play with the victory. It is the second time in three seasons that the Jaspers have started 3-0 in MAAC play.
 
"Our team showed a lot today, especially in the second half," said head coach John Odierna. "I was excited to see how we started the game. I told the guys at halftime that we would learn a lot about ourselves with how we approach the second half. And I thought we did a great job. Our response was very positive."
 
The Jaspers scored the first six goals of the game and the last four goals against Canisius (2-7, 1-2). Scott O'Connor scored five seconds in after a clean faceoff win by Liam McDonough. By the time five minutes had been played, the Jaspers led 3-0 after goals from Kyle Gucwa and Kevin Jaffe.
 
Tadhg O'Riordan, Kelly DuPree, and O'Connor provided the last three to give the Jaspers a 6-0 lead. Canisius did get two back inside the final 90 seconds of the quarter to start a five-goal run that made it 6-5 Manhattan with 5:44 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Canisius tied the game at seven with the first goal of the third quarter. The goal came from Jaxon Fridge with 12:53 to play. The Jaspers responded with three goals in less than 90 seconds. Dan MacKinney scored with 8:46 to play. Gucwa and DuPree added their seconds of the day at 8:09 and 7:26, respectively.
 
Odierna added, "You have to give them credit. Canisius made us earn everything. Our guys did a great job stepping up to the task."
 
The Golden Griffins made it a one-goal game again, 10-9 after Colin Kelly and Kevin Carney scored. Carney's goal with 2:49 left in the third would be the final tally for the Griffs.
 
DuPree scored twice in the final four-goal run by the Jaspers. Christian Lyons and Gucwa supplied the other two.
 
McDonough was brought in as a graduate transfer for games like today. The first-year Jasper won 14 faceoffs on Saturday and picked up his fourth assist on the season.
 
When asked about his faceoff man, Odierna said, "100-percent. The ebbs and flows went with how we were doing at the faceoff. He got rolling and was a difference-maker in controlling the momentum, especially in the second half."
 
DuPree finished with five points—four goals, one assist—on Saturday. That is most in a game for the sophomore's career at Manhattan. MacKinney and Gucwa finished with four points apiece.
 
"Kelly DuPree did a great job today. Danny stepped in on the attack today with one [goal] and three [assists]. To see eight different scorers on 14 goals is encouraging."

Defensively, the Jaspers held the Griffs scoreless over the final 17-plus minutes. Only two of the Griffs' seven shots during that stretch made it to goal. Joseph Persico stopped seven shots on Saturday. The graduate student has not given up double-digit goals to a MAAC opponent this season.
 
The Jaspers return to action on Wednesday at Quinnipiac at 3 p.m.
 
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @ManhattanMLAX and Instagram @Manhattan_Lacrosse.