Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Freshman forward Martine Diamond scored her first collegiate goal in the 36th minute to help lift the Manhattan women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Saint Peter's (3-12-0, 0-5-0 MAAC) on Friday at Gaelic Park. Sophomore goalkeeper Kara Davis recorded three saves in the complete game effort as Manhattan (4-9-1, 2-3-0 MAAC) picked up its second straight MAAC victory.
"We got another important win," explained Lady Jaspers' head coach Brendan Lawler. "The second half was not as crisp as it could have been, but at the end of the day a win is very important for us. The conference standings are a big jumble right now and we are right in the middle of that."
The Lady Jaspers battled through 31 scoreless minutes before receiving its first break of the night getting on the scoreboard by a Saint Peter's own goal. Lady Jaspers' leading scorer Caroline Morse launched an arching cross into the box, which Peahen's midfielder Maggie Neiswanger mishandled and tapped into her own net.
Four minutes later, Diamond extended the Manhattan lead (2-0) when she collected an outlet pass near the midfield from junior transfer Claire Reinhard, stormed past Peahens' goalie Erin Ronan and buried a shot into the back of the net.
Manhattan carried its two goal advantage into intermission. The Lady Jaspers held a 6-1 shot advantage over Saint Peter's in the first 45 minutes.
Saint Peter's got on the board six minutes into the second stanza when midfielder Dana Grimes finished a cross form Chloe Zmolek inside the box to pull within 2-1. It was Grimes second goal of the campaign.
The Peahens continued to put offensive pressure on the Lady Jaspers in the second half, but it was handled well by the Manhattan defensive unit led by senior captain Kara Bucci, juniors Devon Lutz and Reinhard, along with sophomore Sara Jones. Saint Peter's came up empty on 12 shots in the period.
"We have done a much better job of stepping up to pressure defensively, trying to lock people in and force turnovers higher up the field," said Lawler.
The Lady Jaspers look to keep their winning streak alive on Monday in a non-conference tilt with local rival Columbia. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m. at Gaelic Park.
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