Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan College men's lacrosse team celebrated did two things it had never done before on Wednesday afternoon. The Jaspers opened the season earlier than they ever have and hosted Rutgers at Gaelic Park for the first time in program history. Playing through wintry conditions, Manhattan (0-1) held a 4-3 lead early in the second half before the Scarlet Knights (1-1) responded with six goals in the third quarter en route to an 11-7 victory.
Rutgers led 3-0 after the first quarter, but the Jaspers stormed back with three goals in the second. Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) netted the first Manhattan tally at the 12:03 mark. Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) won the ensuing faceoff and took it coast-to-coast for a goal to make it 3-2. Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) scored with 1:04 left in the half to send the teams into the locker room tied at 3-3.
Perrotto scored again 57 seconds into the second half to give the Jaspers a 4-3 lead before Michael Diehl's second goal of the contest tied the game at 4-4. Rutgers took the lead on Kory Kelly's man-up tally at the 11:39 mark, but Variano scored the equalizer, his goal second of the game, just 34 seconds later.
The Scarlet Knights scored the next three goals before Variano registered a man-up tally to pull the Jaspers within 8-6 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. Rutgers regained its three-goal advantage when Justin Pennington scored with 14 seconds left in the quarter, but the Jaspers again got within two when Perrotto found Justin Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) to make it 9-7 with 12:51 left to go.
As a light snow intensified, the playing conditions and visibility became gradually worse as the fourth quarter wore on, hindering the Jaspers' hopes for a comeback. Manhattan held a 7-5 edge in fourth-quarter shots, but was unable to find the back of the net. Goaltender Billy Olin made four saves for the Scarlet Knights during the frame. Brian Shemesh and Kelly each scored a late goal for Rutgers to finish off the scoring.
Variano, who transferred to Manhattan this season after two years at Drexel, registered a hat trick in his Jaspers debut. Perrotto also collected three points with two goals and an assist. Marrano recorded a goal and gathered a team-high four ground balls. John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) made five saves in goal.
Kelly had three goals to lead four Rutgers players with three points. Diehl tallied two goals and an assist, while Pennington and Jeff Rommell each recorded one goal and two assists. Pennington and Mike Hurwitz each secured six ground balls. Olin earned the win after making eight saves in net.
The Jaspers return to action with back-to-back games against Robert Morris and Detroit on Feb. 27-28.
