Women's Soccer Downed By Canisius

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Manhattan women's soccer team suffered its fourth straight loss on Sunday afternoon after they fell, 2-1, at Canisius. Following a tough 1-0 loss at Niagara on Friday night, the Jaspers (4-9, 1-4 MAAC) gave up a late second half goal to the Golden Griffs in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.

Sunday's contest began with plenty of fireworks as Canisius (4-12, 2-4 MAAC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Katie Griffin was able to get a through ball to the foot of Kelly McMahon who beat the one defender she had before finding a way to get past Kara Davis for the first score of the game. Less than two minutes later, Manhattan's Emily Ude got a touch pass off a corner to Janie Schlauder who beat the Griffs goalkeeper Brigid St. Leger from the top of the six yard box.

With the game tied at 1-1, both teams picked up the intensity and looked to take control before half. In the 16^th minute of play, Davis was tested with two shots within eight seconds of one another but was able to make both saves to preserve the tie. Meanwhile, Schlauder looked for her second score of the contest in the 25^th minute but was denied on two separate occasions while Mary Hijazi also had two consecutive shots blocked in the 44^th minute, sending the game to halftime knotted up.

Coming out of the locker room, each squad kept the pressure on looking for that go-ahead goal. A flurry of shots and corners early on went begging for Tiffanie McIntosh as well as Jenny Piaggione of Canisius. In the 75^th minute, Piaggione was finally able to make something happen as her corner kick was headed home by Brianna Smith to give the Golden Griffins a 2-1 lead.

In the final 15 minutes of regulation, the Jaspers could only muster four more shots with two actually reaching the net. Manhattan finished the game outshooting their opponent 20-18 while also leading in corner kicks 14-11 on Sunday. Both Davis and St. Leger each made nine saves in the contest.

The Jaspers will return to action on Fri. Oct. 19 when they host MAAC rival Marist at 7 p.m. at Gaelic Park.