The Jaspers win against Central Connecticut State in 5
sets.
VINCENT DUSOVIC / COURTESY
Zeke Jazwinski, Sports Editor
Women’s Soccer
The Manhattan Jaspers women’s soccer team returned to Gaelic Park on Saturday afternoon for its first Metro Conference home game of the season against Niagara. The Jaspers earned a 1-0 victory over the Purple Eagles, improving to 4-2 overall and earning their first conference win.
Niagara applied pressure early, but senior goalkeeper Molly Brunk made a save in the seventh minute to keep the game scoreless. Freshman forward Baileigh Johnson recorded Manhattan’s first shot on goal just before the 22nd minute, forcing a save from Niagara goalkeeper Julia Poissant.
Manhattan broke through in the 32nd minute when freshman defender Estelle Raspe delivered a cross into the box to team captain Lauren Ahearn, who found the back of the net to give the Jaspers a 1-0 lead. Manhattan held the advantage at halftime, with Niagara recording just one more shot on goal before the break.
The Jaspers continued to create opportunities in the second half. Olivia McMaster, Johnson and Ahearn each forced saves from Poissant, while Johnson added another shot on target in the 66th minute. McMaster nearly added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute, but Niagara’s defense kept the deficit at one.
game.
VINCENT DUSOVIC / COURTESY
Manhattan’s defense held strong in the final minutes, allowing just one shot in the second half to secure the 1-0 victory and its first Metro Conference win at Gaelic Park.
Ahearn scored her fourth goal of the season, leading the roster, while Brunk made one save to record the 21st shutout of her career. Johnson led the Jaspers with three shots on goal. Manhattan outshot Niagara 10-4 overall and held a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.
The Jaspers will be back to play on Wednesday, Sept. 23, when they travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to face Marist at 7 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball
The Manhattan Jaspers women’s volleyball team earned its first win of the season Tuesday night, defeating Central Connecticut State 3-2 (25-23, 26-28, 25-20, 19-25, 16-14) at Detrick Gymnasium. The victory was also the first of Head Coach Brooke Alverson’s collegiate career.
The Jaspers played strong in the first set behind kills from Brooke Johnson and Emma Francesconi. Emilia Kuzniar later extended Manhattan’s lead to 14-10, while a service ace from Abby Morreale put the Jaspers ahead 19-18. After the set was tied at 22, Manhattan scored three of the final four points, capped by a kill from Hanna Kaczynska to take the opening set.
The second set was a stalemate with no team being able to take the lead. 11 ties through the first 22 points before CCSU took a 13-11 lead. Morreale’s kill later put Manhattan ahead 24-22, but the Blue Devils rallied to win the final three points and even the match at one set apiece.
Manhattan responded in the third set, with Katie Powers recording a kill to tie the score at 15. Powers later added a service ace to make it 20-20 before the Jaspers scored five straight points to take the set 25-20 and regain the match lead.
CCSU controlled much of the fourth set, taking a 17-8 advantage. Manhattan answered with five straight points, and Francesconi’s service ace cut the deficit to two. The Blue Devils regained control, however, winning 25-19 to force a decisive fifth set.
Central Connecticut State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the final set before Manhattan responded with three straight points. The Blue Devils later led 11-6 and reached match point at 14-12. The Jaspers refused to let the match slip away, scoring the final four points, including the winning point on a CCSU attack error, to complete the comeback.
Francesconi finished with 12 kills, while Kaczynska added 11 and Powers recorded 10. Powers also posted her second consecutive double-double. Manhattan recorded 10 service aces, its second match this season with at least 10. Junior setter Ori Briger led the Jaspers with 28 assists.
Men’s Soccer
The Manhattan Jaspers men’s soccer team fell to UMass Lowell 2-1 Friday night at Cushing Field in their final non-conference match of the season. The loss dropped Manhattan to 2-4-0 in the season.
The Jaspers showed off their offense, with Tycho van Haaren and Cristiano Marsilii recording shots on target within the first three minutes. Mouhamadou Diagne and Ziv Dahan added chances as Manhattan continued to pressure the Riverhawks through the opening 15 minutes.
UMass Lowell broke through late in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Manhattan continued to create opportunities after the break, with Marsilii and Dahan each adding shots. Freshman goalkeeper Philip Isaksson, making his first collegiate start, played the first half before Gaspar Homar took over in goal and made two saves.
The Jaspers finally found the equalizer in the 85th minute. Following a foul in the offensive midfield, van Haaren delivered a free kick into the box, where defender Nicolo Donadio headed the ball into the net for his first collegiate goal.
The Riverhawks answered in the final seconds, scoring the game-winning goal off a free kick after a yellow card to Giovanni Rivera.
Donadio led Manhattan with five shots, including two on target, while Marsilii added four shots and two on target. Dahan recorded three shots, with one on target. Van Haaren finished with one shot on target and an assist.
Isaksson made two saves in his first collegiate start, while Homar finished with three saves. Despite the loss, Manhattan outshot UMass Lowell 18-13.
The Jaspers look to start Metro Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26, when they travel to Siena for a 3 p.m. match at Hickey Field. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.