Riverdale, N.Y. (September 21, 2007)- Soccer is a fickle sport. A team can carry possession for the majority of the game, and create the best scoring chances, but still end up on the short end of the final score. This was the case for Manhattan men's soccer this afternoon at Gaelic Park, as a late penalty kick was the difference in a 1-0 defeat to Virginia Military Academy.
The Jaspers set the tone offensively early in the game, getting two dangerous shots on frame from freshman Sean Russell, only to have VMI keeper Brian Sowell make the first two of his game-high seven saves in acrobatic fashion.
Manhattan carried possession for the majority of the first 45 minutes, and it was reflected in the stats, as the Jaspers held an 8-5 advantage in shots (4-2 in shots on goal), and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks, but the two sides went into the locker rooms knotted at 0-0.
In the second half, Manhattan again fashioned a great scoring chance in the 68th minute, but Tony Safran's shot hit the crossbar, and Dan Carr's header on the rebound was corralled by Sowell.
Just over six minutes later, the hand of fate dealt Manhattan a crushing blow. On an in-between ball inside the Jasper 18-yard box, VMI's Wythe Horbal was able to nudge the ball past Manhattan net minder John Ciano, and a Jasper defender was forced to commit a deliberate hand ball to prevent the easy tally. The subsequent red card awarded the Keydets a penalty kick, which Horbal converted for the game's lone tally.
Manhattan was able to get two shots off in the final minute of play, but did not score the equalizer.
“I feel we had several real good looks at the goal,” stated third-year head coach Michael Swanwick. “I have to give credit to VMI's keeper, who made four tremendous saves.”
The Jaspers return to action on Sunday, September 23, hosting Florida Atlantic University at 10:00 a.m. at Gaelic Park.
