Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Siena (4-5, 2-0 MAAC) scored five goals in a two-minute span late in the third quarter to build a 13-6 lead en route to a 16-9 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team (4-5, 1-2 MAAC) at Gaelic Park on Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped the Jaspers' three-game winning streak.
Jordan Loftus scored with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter to give Siena a 9-6 lead and start a span where the Saints would score on three consecutive shots. Siena won the ensuing faceoff, then Loftus fed Scott Montgomery for a goal just nine seconds later. The Saints again won the faceoff after Montgomery's goal, and Bryan Neufeld connected off an assist from Ryan Duggan at the 2:04 mark. Loftus added an unassisted tally at the 1:26 mark of the third, then notched a man-up goal with 46 seconds remaining in the quarter to give the Saints a 13-6 advantage.
The Jaspers pulled within 13-8 after Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) and James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) scored early in the fourth quarter. Siena got those two goals back before Luke Dilillo (Lexington, Mass.) scored off a feed from Mike Llewellyn (Brookhaven, N.Y.) with 2:42 remaining. The Saints added a late goal to account for the final margin.
The contest started off as a defensive battle, as it was tied at 1-1 after one quarter. Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.) got Manhattan on the board first less than a minute into the game. Kenny Mazzone scored the equalizer for Siena at the 11:11 mark, and the sides remained even until Synowiez gave Manhattan a 2-1 lead early in the second quarter. The Jaspers increased their advantage to 3-1 when Spatarella posted a man-down tally with 11:58 remaining in the first half.
Siena responded with the next three goals to take a 4-3 lead before Synowiez notched his second tally of the game with 4:37 left in the half. Brendan Murphy's goal at the 1:44 mark of the second quarter gave the Saints a 5-4 halftime advantage. The Saints increased their lead to 6-4 on Neufeld's goal 48 seconds into the third quarter, but back-to-back Manhattan goals tied the game at 6-6. Synowiez notced an unassisted tally at the 12:09 mark, then Joe Variano's (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) goal tied the game with 10:22 remaining in the third quarter. Chris Zarins scored at the 9:39 mark to give the Saints back the lead and start the rally where Siena notched the last seven goals of the quarter to pull away.
Synowiez finished with four goals and collected seven ground balls for the Jaspers, and Spatarella recorded two goals. Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) corralled a career-high 10 ground balls. Goalkeeper John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) had five ground balls to go along with 10 saves. Geagan (2-5) allowed 15 goals before being replaced by Connor Dougherty (Blue Point, N.Y.).
Loftus tallied a game-high seven points, finishing with five goals and two assists. Neufeld and Kenny Mazzone each had three goals and two assists for the Saints, as 12 of Siena's 16 goals were assisted. Scott Montgomery corralled 11 ground balls and won 14 faceoffs, including seven in the third quarter. Mazzone collected six ground balls and Kyle Vercruysse added five, as Siena held a 51-45 advantage on the ground. Brent Herbst (4-4) made 10 saves to earn the win.
The Jaspers conclude their three-game homestand on Wednesday afternoon, when they host Sacred Heart (2-5) at 3:30 p.m. The contest is the start of a Manhattan lacrosse doubleheader. At 7 p.m., the women's team takes on MAAC rival Iona.
