Manhattan Falls to Siena In 2009 MAAC Championship Game

Box Score 

BUFFALO, N.Y. ? In the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship Game, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team fell just short in its goal to win the conference title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The third-seeded Jaspers (10-8) fell behind top-seeded Siena (12-5) early and were unable to mount a comeback, as the Saints won their first MAAC Championship with a 9-5 victory at the Demske Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.  John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.), Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) and Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) of the Jaspers were named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team.

Manhattan had a couple of good scoring chances early, as the Jaspers outshot the Saints 7-4 in the opening quarter.  However, Manhattan couldn't figure out Siena goalkeeper Brent Herbst, who made four first-quarter saves.  The Saints scored the game's first goal with 3:05 left in the quarter when Chris Zarins found the back of the net off a feed from Kenny Mazzone.

Siena tallied four straight goals to open the second quarter and increase its lead to 5-0.  Shaun Dunn had a pair of goals, while John Rogener and Bryan Neufeld each scored once in the quarter.  Manhattan, which shut out Mount St. Mary's in the first half of Friday's semifinal game, was in danger of being shut out itself in the first 30 minutes until Justin Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) notched an unassisted tally with 35 seconds left in the half.

The third quarter resembled the first, as the Jaspers outshot the Saints 7-3 in the period.  Manhattan scored the quarter's only goal when Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) connected with Luke Dilillo (Lexington, Mass.) at the 3:49 mark to cut Siena's lead to 5-2.

The Jaspers were unable to pull any closer, however, as Siena scored the first three goals of the fourth quarter to increase its advantage to 8-2.  Brian Murphy registered a man-up tally with 12:31 remaining, then Jordan Loftus scored at the 9:17 mark.  Dunn's goal, his third of the game, at the 7:59 mark began a span where three goals were scored in 13 seconds.  Marrano won the ensuing faceoff for Manhattan, then raced down and scored just seven seconds after Dunn's goal.  Siena answered immediately, as the Saints won the faceoff and Ryan Duggan scored six seconds later to make it 9-3.

It remained 9-3 until the 4:11 mark, when MAAC Offensive Player of the Year James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) tallied his 43^rd goal of the season.  The Jaspers finished off the scoring on Variano's goal with 2:18 remaining.  Manhattan's offense continued to push over the final 2:18, but wasn't able to get past the Siena defense, and the Saints secured their first MAAC title with a 9-5 win.

Five different Manhattan players scored in the game, and none had more than one goal.  Synowiez, who was marked closely by MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Chris Viviano for most of the contest, saw his streak of 12 consecutive multi-goal games come to an end.  Jensen had two assists to finish with a team-high three points, while Variano tallied a goal and an assist.  Playing his final game in a Manhattan uniform, Marrano tied for the team lead with four ground balls.  Steve Sternberg (Easton, Conn.) collected four ground balls, as well.  Geagan (8-8) ended his career by stopping nine Siena shots.

Dunn's hat trick led four multi-point efforts for Siena.  Loftus had a goal and two assists, while Mazzone handed out three assists.  Brendan Murphy added two points (one goal, one assist) for the Saints.  Viviano corralled four ground balls, as the Saints held a 25-23 edge on the ground.  Herbst (12-5) made 14 saves, including nine in the fourth quarter, and was named MAAC Tournament MVP.

Geagan, who held Mount St. Mary's scoreless in the first half in Friday's semifinals, earned All-Tournament Team honors after making 19 saves in the two games.  He had a goals against average of 6.01 and a .613 save percentage in the tournament.  Marrano, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, went 15-13 on faceoffs and collected seven ground balls in the two games to earn an All-Tournament selection.  Perrotto had three goals, including the game-winner, against Mount St. Mary's and claimed Manhattan's third spot on the MAAC All-Tournament Team.