Box Score
Villanova, P.A. - The Manhattan Men's Soccer team dropped their 2011 season opener 2-0 to Villanova at West Campus Soccer Complex on Friday night. The Wildcats move to 1-0 while the Jaspers fall to 0-1 in the first contest of the year for both teams.
Manhattan showed their aggressive nature early on with multiple shots taken in the first half and some hard tackles. Sophomore midfielder Daniel Festa picked up a yellow card in the fifth minute in what was the first of five total cautions issued.
The Wildcats got on the board in the 19th minute with rocket shot from Aaron Dennis that skipped off sophomore goalie Christopher Lands on the left side of the net. Lands, who played just the first half, made three saves on five shots on goal before being relieved at halftime.
The Jaspers would continue fighting; firing seven shots in the first half earning three corner kicks as well but could not capitalize on their scoring chances. Villanova would then extend their lead in the thirty-fifth minute on Dennis' second goal of the match off a pretty feed from midfielder Oscar Umar.
Quinnipiac transfer George Ellis made his first appearance in a Manhattan uniform, starting the second frame in net. He was stellar in his forty-five minutes of work facing four shots on goal and stopping them all. However, Wildcats keeper John Fogarty was equal to the task as he made two saves throughout the game, and his defense kept any real danger from occurring, to post a shutout.
The Villanova players picked up yellow cards as well, Emerson Lawrence and Alex Weiss in the first half, with Aaron Dennis getting his in the second frame. Meanwhile, midfielder Carlo Giachino was issued a yellow card as well in the 70th minute for Manhattan.
The Jaspers amassed six total corner kicks without allowing one to Villanova. However, they were out shot 18-11 in the contest.
The Jaspers will be back in action, weather permitting, on Monday Aug. 29, when they travel to West Point, N.Y. to take on the Army Black Knights.
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