Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. ? Coming into the season, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team knew that Princeton was probably the best opponent on the 2009 schedule. The Jaspers (1-3) found out just how good the sixth-ranked Tigers (4-0) were on Sunday afternoon. Manhattan hung with Princeton for a while, but the Tigers scored eight straight goals midway through the contest en route to a 15-6 victory at Class of 1952 Stadium.
Princeton got on the board first barely a minute into the game, but James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) countered with a goal for the Jaspers at the 9:53 mark. After Rob Engelke scored to give Princeton back the lead, Brett Miranda (Ossining, N.Y.) found the back of the net to tie it at 2-2 with 1:26 left in the first quarter. The Tigers scored twice in the final minute of the period, then added another goal in the first minute of the second. Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) tallied a pair of goals 1:02 apart, one with the man-up, to pull Manhattan within 5-4 with 10:19 left before halftime.
However, the Tigers took over from there. Princeton scored the final three goals of the first half, then outscored Manhattan 4-0 in the third quarter. The Tigers extended their advantage to 13-4 on Engelke's man-up tally at the 13:25 mark of the fourth quarter. Manhattan got a pair of goals from Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.) to end the Princeton rally, then the Tigers added two late goals to finish off a 15-6 victory.
Spatarella and Variano led Manhattan with two goals apiece. Mike Brooks (Timunium, Md.), Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), Kyle Moeller (South Setauket, N.Y.) and Synowiez each recorded a team-best three ground balls. John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) stopped 16 shots and allowed 13 goals before giving way to Matt Solomito (Holtsville, N.Y.) in the fourth quarter. Solomito made five saves and surrendered two goals over the final 13:11 of the contest.
Tommy Davis had five goals and added two assists for the Tigers. Engelke notched four goals and two assists, while Scott MacKenzie tallied two goals and an assist for Princeton. Josh Lesko scooped up a game-high four ground balls, as the Tigers held a 34-26 advantage in that department. Three goalkeepers saw action for Princeton, and Nikhil Ashra earned the win after making four saves.
Manhattan begins its quest for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title when Mount St. Mary's (0-3) visits Gaelic Park in each team's MAAC opener. The contest is set for 12 p.m.
