Late Goal Lifts Robert Morris Past Manhattan, 13-12

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - In a contest that was delayed one day and had to be moved to Brooklyn's Aviator Field because of an unplayable field at Gaelic Park, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team finally played its "home" opener on Saturday afternoon.  The Jaspers (0-2) held a one-goal lead late in the fourth quarter, but Robert Morris (2-0) scored twice in the final 2:10, including the game-winner with eight seconds remaining, to notch a 13-12 victory.

After Robert Morris scored two quick goals to open the game, Manhattan responded with a pair of tallies a minute apart to knot the score at 2-2.  The Colonials tallied the next two goals before the Jaspers capped a wild first quarter by scoring three times in the final 1:36 to take a 5-4 lead after one.  Robert Morris evened it up midway through the second quarter, but Manhattan regained the lead on a goal by Tyler Sabens (Falmouth, Mass.) with 3:23 left in the period.  James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) added a man-up tally with five seconds remaining in the half to give the Jaspers a 7-5 halftime advantage.

With Manhattan leading 9-7 late in the third quarter, Corbyn TaoBrambleby registered a man-up goal to pull Robert Morris within one.  TaoBrambleby found the back of the net again to tie the game early in the fourth before Manhattan regained its two-goal advantage on tallies by Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) and Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.).  However, the Colonials won the face-off after Spatarella's goal, and Trevor Moore scored less than a minute later to again make it a one-goal margin.  Robert Morris won the draw again after Moore's goal, and he found the back of the net again just 12 seconds later to even the game at 11-11 with 7:44 remaining. 

The Jaspers regained the lead when Justin Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) connected with Spatarella at the 2:27 mark, but TaoBrambelby scored just 17 seconds later to tie the game once again, 12-12.  Robert Morris won another face-off, its eighth of the nine draws in the fourth quarter, after the TaoBrambelby goal, the took a timeout to draw up a final shot.  The Colonials held it until the eight-second mark, when Keith Lee Connected with Patrick Smith for what turned out to be the game-winner.  Robert Morris won the ensuing face-off to seal a come-from-behind 13-12 victory.

Synowiez and Jensen both had five-point afternoons for Manhattan.  Synowiez tallied three goals and a pair of assists, while Jensen had one goal and four assists.  Variano and Spatarella posted two goals and an assist apiece, while Sabens had a goal and an assist.  Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) distributed two assists.  Matt Solomito (Holtsville, N.Y.) (0-1) got the start in goal and made 14 saves.  He also tied for the team lead with six ground balls.  Steve Sternberg (Easton, Conn.) also corralled six ground balls.

Smith had four goals, including the game-winner, and three assists to lead the Colonials.  Trevor Moore finished with six points (two goals, four assists), while TaoBrambleby tallied a hat trick.  Lee and Kevin Brownell each posted a goal and an assist for Robert Morris.  Goalkeeper Sal Barcia (2-0) only needed to make four saves, as the Colonials outshot the Jaspers 50-29.  Barcia and Mike Grosz both collected six ground balls, as Robert Morris had a 54-37 edge on the ground.