Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan women's lacrosse finished the season 6-11, 2-6 MAAC. Two high-performing Jaspers reached career milestones in the 2023 season. 
 
The Jaspers started the season strongly by defeating Sacred Heart 14-13 in overtime and then Fairleigh Dickinson by a nine-point margin of 16-7. Before MAAC play, the Jaspers defeated Kennesaw State 10-8. The Jaspers won the first two games of MAAC play against Canisius and Mount St. Mary's. However, this winning streak for the Jaspers was cut short by Marist, losing 10-9. For the next three conference games, the Jaspers lost each match by only one goal. The season's final two games, Fairfield and Niagara, resulted in losses greater than 10. Mount St. Mary's was the Jaspers' last win of the season.
 
The Jaspers' highest-scoring game of the season was the second game against FDU on Feb. 18, where they scored 16 goals. The Jaspers had their largest scoring run in the third quarter, dropping five in a row. In the game, Julianna Iovine and Julia Fernandes scored hat tricks, with Andrea Liotta picking up three ground balls and seven draw controls.
 
Despite losing to Quinnipiac 15-14 on Apr. 8, two of the Jaspers' leading scorers for the season, they had their best game of the season. The Jaspers trailed at the end of the first half, but then the offense rattled off seven straight goals in the third to take a 13-7 lead. The seven goals in the third quarter were the most the Jaspers scored in a quarter this season. Reagan Mullins and Jillian Reiner scored, with Mullins adding two assists. Two of the four goals from Mullins came during the third-quarter run, scoring back-to-back goals only 48 seconds apart.
 
As a team, the Jaspers scored 150 goals for the season, averaging 8.8 goals per game. Twenty-seven of those goals came from free-position shots. The Jaspers picked up 289 ground balls, with 34 coming from Liotta. The Jaspers were successful in 75% of their clear attempts for the season.
 
The leading scorers for the Jaspers were Reiner (36), Iovine (27), and Mullins (23). Liotta led the team defensively with 34 ground balls and 74 draw controls. The largest number of goals scored by a Jasper in a single game this season was four, achieved by Mullins, Reiner, and Ava Fernandes. This season, Liotta reached a career milestone of 100 ground balls, finishing her career with 102. Ashley Gambardella was the Jaspers' starting goalie, playing in all 17 games. Gambardella finished with a GAA of 11.31, making 136 saves, and had a save percentage of 45.3%. Gambardella had her best game of the season against Kennesaw State, recording 13 saves. Gambardella reached 400 career saves this season, finishing her career with 455.
 
Three Jaspers from this season earned All-MAAC Honors. Liotta was unanimously selected for First Team All-MAAC, and Iovine and Emily Derrico earned Second Team All-MAAC. Liotta played an integral part in the Jaspers' defense. The senior led the Jaspers in ground balls (34), caused turnovers (21), and snagged 74 draw controls. Iovine led the Jaspers in assists (15) and finished with 27 goals and 42 points, including the game-winner in the season opener against Sacred Heart in overtime. Derrico ended the regular season second in draw controls (47) for the Jaspers and on a per-game basis (2.76).

Manhattan had 17 student-athletes earn All-Academic Team Honors. Representing the Jaspers were Caroline D'Agostino, Andrea Liotta, Ava Fernandes, Emily Fiola, Julia Fernandes, Brigit Crosby, Ashley Gambardella, Julianna Iovine, Jessica Hise, Jennifer McPherson, Hannah Cleary, Ashley Bonitch, Marissa Moran, Emily Derrico, Jillian Reiner, Julie Rosica, and Reagan Mullins.
 
For the latest on the Manhattan College women's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Instagram @manhattanwlacrosse_ and Twitter @ManhattanWLax.