Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' senior goalkeeper Kara Davis did everything she could to keep Rider (6-3-2, 1-2 MAAC) off the scoreboard, but a deflected shot in the 65th minute found its way in front of the box for Broncs' forward Bridgette Bartkowski to punch in the game winning goal. Davis matched a season-high with seven saves as the Manhattan women's soccer team dropped its second 1-0 decision at Gaelic Park this season.
Entering the contest 3-1 at home, Manhattan (4-6, 1-1 MAAC) battled the Broncs even through a fast paced first half, dodging a couple bullets along the way. It remained a scoreless tie by the half with the help of a header by Rider midfielder Tara Ballay that caught the post in the 20th minute.
Davis made six of her seven saves in the second half as the Broncs' unleashed 11 of their 18 shots in the period. In the 51st minute, she came up with a key save on the goal line from a shot by Rider back Angela Monaco. Then a minute later, Davis made a leaping save on a free kick by midfielder Demi Mello that was heading for the top of the net.
Bartkowski took advantage of a huge opportunity with 64:24 on the clock. Senior forward Abi Cottam fired a shot from the right side that was blocked by Jaspers' senior Allison Pfeiffer. The loose ball found its way in front of the net to Bartkowski who pushed it into the open goal.
The Jaspers wouldn't go away easy down the stretch, pushing forward to give themselves opportunities to tally the equalizer. Manhattan senior forward Brittany Egan could not slide in a corner kick that found her on the back side of the goal in the 75th minute.
Junior forward Aislinn McIlvenny, who energized the Manhattan attack all game, had another key opportunity in the 88th minute. She took control of a loose ball senior midfielder Claire Reinhard dislodged from the Rider defense in the back field. McIlvenny found an open space and fired an uncontested shot from 25 yards out that sailed just high of the crossbar.
Manhattan freshman Emily Ude had four of the Jaspers' 11 shots. Broncs' senior goalkeeper Jenn Nichols came up with five saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season.
The Broncs' goal snapped a streak of 361 scoreless minutes for Davis, a stretch that began on Sept. 2. It was only the fourth goal she has yielded in 10 starts this season as she still tops the MAAC with a 0.55 goals against average.
The Jaspers look to bounce back on Sunday when they host Loyola for their final game of a four match homestand. Kickoff is slated for 10 a.m. at Gaelic Park.
