Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan men's soccer team came up short in its home opener this evening falling 5-4 in overtime to Fairleigh Dickinson (2-1). Despite a three goal effort from senior forward Fernando Londono, the Jaspers could not overcome the Knights' second half surge which sent the game into OT. In the 97th minute, Fairleigh Dickinson midfielder Paul King connected on the game winning goal, his second of the contest.
Manhattan (0-2) jumped out to an early advantage and rolled into the half with a 2-0 edge. In the 21st minute, Londono finished on a give-and-go assisted by John Dellipriscoli to break a scoreless tie.
Less than five minutes later, sophomore midfielder Matt Gormley came off the bench cold and scored the first goal of his collegiate career. Gormley juked his defender on the left side, found a seam at the top of the box and sailed one into the back of the net.
Knights' forward Fabrizio Trezza put Fairleigh Dickinson on the scoreboard early in the second half when he finished on a feed from Fernando Huthmacher. The goal ended a 53 minute scoring drought.
Londono responded with back-to-back goals which put the Jaspers on top 4-1 at the 64:22 mark. Nicholas Patrikis, a junior midfielder, assisted both goals.
In the 76th minute, Fairleigh Dickinson began its comeback bid and used King's first goal of the contest to pull within 4-2. Then with 82:02 on the clock, Vin Reinecke connected on a deep shot from just outside the box to cut the Knights' deficit to one. On the ensuing possession, midfielder Sergio Munoz tallied the equalizer off a fast break 13 seconds later.
Manhattan entered overtime energized, but could not connect on its first two scoring opportunities of sudden victory. Londono barely missed scoring his fourth goal of the contest in the first two minutes. His first shot was saved by Knights' goalkeeper Majdi Zaineh, and second opportunity slightly missed high over the cross bar.
Zaineh collected five saves in the contest, while Jaspers' goaltender John Ciano stopped a career-high 11 shots.
Before the Jaspers had another opportunity, King ended the contest in the 97th minute. King penetrated on the left side, accepted a feed from Jermaine Hardy and finished opposite corner.
The Jaspers four goals marked the most since the squad ran off with a 4-2 victory over Florida Atlantic last season.
Manhattan travels to Army on Wednesday, before returning to Gaelic Park on Saturday for a match with New Jersey Institute of Technology under the lights. Game time is schedule for 7 p.m.
