Box Score
Riverdale, N.Y. (April 23, 2008) ? The Manhattan College Men's Lacrosse team kept their playoff hopes alive with a 7-6 win in double overtime against MAAC opponent St. Joseph's University. Salvatore Spatarella came through with the goal as time expired to push Manhattan to victory.
At the start of the game, Saint Joseph's took an early 1-0 lead, then added on another goal with just over six minutes remaining to go up 2-0. The Jaspers then struck as Angelo Marrano took a Michael Llewellyn pass to score and cut their deficit to 2-1. But the Hawks would have the last strike in the first quarter as they answered back to make a 3-1 game going into the second quarter.
In the second, St. Joe's jumped ahead and increased their lead to 4-1. But Spatarella tallied his first goal of the game, as he scored unassisted to kept it close, 4-2. The Hawks would answer right back as within ten seconds of Manhattan scoring, St. Joe's put one in the net to make it a 5-2 game. But the Jaspers were not going to lie down as Brian Wynne fired one past the goalie to bring it to 5-3. Wynne then scored his second goal of the game to bring the Jaspers to within one, with just 2:44 remaining in the half. In the final minute, Salvatore Perotto scored the tying goal as Manhattan and St. Joe's went into the locker rooms at halftime all tied, 5-5.
It was a defensive game, as both teams were leaving it all out on the field. Both teams would not allow a goal by the opposing team in the third quarter and we would enter the final quarter of play, still tied 5-5.
In the fourth, Manhattan struck early as Luke Dillilo scored the go ahead goal to put the Jaspers up 6-5. But SJU fought back and tied the game up with 6:26 left in the game. Both defenses were showing their strength as the game was held scoreless the rest of the way and headed into overtime.
In the first overtime, Manhattan won the initial face-off and had the advantage early in the period. After a missed shot attempt, Saint Joe's came down with the ball. But strong defense once again held SJU in check as we ended the first overtime with no score.
The second overtime proved to be much like the first with both teams' defenses holding strong. But Spatarella's drove toward the cage and fired one past the goalie as the horn sounded.
Spatarella finished the game with two points off of two goals as Marrano finished with two points off of one goal and one assists. Wynne tallied three points on the day, scoring twice and dishing out one assists. The Jasper defense was anchored by goalie John Geagan's 13 saves and four groundballs.
The Jaspers improve to 4-3 in the MAAC and 5-8 overall. They will return to action on Saturday, April 26 as they will take on VMI in their final game of the 2008 season at home. Manhattan will be playing for a birth into the MAAC Championship Tournament; game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
