Box Score
MAAC Tournament Central
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - With the memory of last weekend's three goal loss to #8 Rider (7-11-1) fresh in the Lady Jaspers' minds, the Manhattan women's soccer team got revenge on Thursday at the 2009 MAAC Championships. Manhattan (8-9-2) used a goal from sophomore midfielder Tara Gleason less than nine minutes into the match en route to a shutout victory. The ninth seeded Lady Jasper now advance to the quarterfinals tomorrow to face #1 Loyola at 1:45 p.m. in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
"It was nice to rebound the way we did after last week's disappointing performance," explained Manhattan head coach Sean Driscoll. "We defended a lot better and brought more energy and enthusiasm. Today's result was a reflection of this."
Unlike their first match this season when Rider erupted for four first half goals, the Lady Jaspers were the ones on attack early scoring 8:42 into the contest when Gleason launched a shot into the top half of the net from the right flank. In just her sixth match and second start of an injury prone campaign, it marked Gleason's first goal of her career.
Manhattan's stingy defensive unit anchored by starters Jill Beauchamp, Amanda Fischer, junior Kara Bucci and sophomore Devon Lutz limited Rider to just two shots in the first half and three shots on goal in the game. Freshman goalkeeper Kara Davis was solid in net to earn her fifth shutout of the season, the third most shutouts in the MAAC this season. Davis played all 90 minutes and made three saves to increase her season total to 62.
The Lady Jaspers outshot Rider 10-8 in the match. Manhattan took six corner kicks with five coming in the first half.
"This was a difficult playoff game with tense moments," said Driscoll. "I am proud of our kids for dealing with the conditions and finding a way to win."
The victory is Manhattan's first postseason win since 2001 and just the second in program history. With one win in the books, the Lady Jaspers will continue their attempt to win four games in five days for the conference title. They return to field tomorrow to take on top-seeded Loyola. Manhattan was edged by the Greyhounds 1-0 in the regular-season finale on Sunday in Baltimore.
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