Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Hats off to Loyola University's Phil Bannister, the senior forward showed why he was the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year; notching three goals in a 4-0 win over Manhattan College Friday night.
The opening match of the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season, the Greyhounds (5-3-1, 1-0-0) started slowly out of the gate but got a sensational second half from their two-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Week to pull away on a beautiful night at the Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore, Md.
For the Jaspers (0-7-0, 0-1-0), a promising 45 minutes in which they trailed only 1-0 gave the team a glimmer of hope heading out of the locker room but an anemic offense and a handful of tremendous efforts from Loyola's skill players doomed the Green and White by games' end.
Coming into the matchup off arguable their best game of the year, a 1-0 defeat at Fordham University, Manhattan proved to be stout opposition for the conference leader late into the first half but left themselves vulnerable without a goal to show for their efforts. From there it was only a matter if time until the conference's top marksmen found the back of the net.
In the 43rd minute, the English striker would score the first of his trio of tallies on the evening. Off a penalty kick, Bannister struck a bending ball that hooked past Jaspers' freshman goaltender Christopher Lands and just inside the near post for a 1-0 advantage. It was his eighth on the campaign.
The reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, Lands made four saves while Loyola senior goalkeeper Kyle Wittman made three for his third shutout of the year.
Heading into the second half only trailing by one, Manhattan felt confident they could answer back but the preseason MAAC favorite and senior-laden squad was not interested in a close finish to start league play. In the 47th minute, Bannister would get the brace. Off a brilliant pass from freshman midfielder Diego McQuestion, the fourth-year forward unloaded from just outside the box and placed a shot over the head of Lands for a 2-0 score.
Six minutes later came a rare trick of the trade, the elusive third goal and No. 10 overall on the season. On a shot deflected off a Jasper defender, Bannister crept into the box and tapped the free ball across the line to complete his brilliant performance and give the home team a 3-0 lead.
Loyola University would complete their scoring in the 83rd minute when first-year defender Jamie Libbey headed a free kick from sophomore back Kevin Curran to the back right corner for the 4-0 final score.
Although the score showed a one-sided affair, the Jaspers did put up a road high total of 11 shots compared to 15 for the Green and Gray. Unfortunately it was in the opportunities department where the young team again faltered, putting only three shots on goal compared to eight for the Greyhounds.
Seniors Jake Ostrov and Sean Russell combined for seven shots, including three on goal.
Manhattan College will have Saturday off before heading to Lawrenceville, N.J. on Sunday, Oct. 10 looking for their first win of the season against MAAC foe Rider University.
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