Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - In their first home game in a month, the Manhattan women's lacrosse team was able to overcome a five goal deficit and knock off conference rival Marist 13-12 on Wednesday night. The victory snapped a five game losing streak for the Japsers who move to 3-7 and 1-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. Manhattan was paced by a career high five goals from freshman Donna Jo DiNorcia and relied on a clutch save from Christina Fiorinelli with under 10 seconds to pull out the win
The Red Foxes (2-10; 1-1 MAAC) got on the board first with Jamie Romano's unassisted goal four minutes into the contest. Senior Chrissy Gutenberger quickly tied things up with the first of her four goals a little over a minute letter. From there, Marist would score seven of the next nine goals to take an 8-3 lead with 4:05 remaining in the half.
Manhattan stopped the bleeding on a free position goal from Kelsey Rehain to cut the deficit at 8-4. With less than 30 seconds left until halftime, DiNoricia notched her second tally of the game with a free position goal on a man-up opportunity before Carly Eskenazi took the following draw control and raced down the middle of the field. With time winding down, she found Clare Kerrisk who put a bouncing shot past Marist goalkeeper Ashley Casiano to send the Jaspers into halftime trailing by only two.
Out of the break, Manhattan continued on the comeback trail with another DiNorcia goal on a pass from Gutenberger. The assist by Gutenberger was the 32nd of her career, putting her 10th all-time in that category.
The four goal run for the Jaspers was snapped when Marist's Ashley Miller scored her fourth goal of the game on a free position opportunity. Gutenberger and Kerrisk then notched back-to-back goals tie the game at 9-9 for the first time since 24:22 remained in the first half.
Manhattan would take their first lead of the game when DiNorcia scored for the fourth time on another free position opportunity. The freshman would add another tally a few moments later to make the score 11-9 in favor of the Jaspers.
The Red Foxes reeled off two quick scores of their own to knot up the contest once again with 10:53 left in regulation. As Manhattan looked to go back on top, Gutenberger controlled possession behind the Marist cage when Casiano attempted to force a move from Gutenberger. She then worked her way to the right of the goal and fired a low shot into the empty net to push the Jaspers back up by one.
The Jaspers then attempted to play keep away with the one goal advantage. Marist tried in turn to force a turnover by having Casiano play out of the net acting as an extra defender. With solid ball movement, Gutenberger was able to score another empty netter, her fourth goal of the game, giving Manhattan a 13-11 cushion it would need.
Trailing by two with one minute remaining, Marist was able to win possession off the draw control (where they won 17 of 27 total) and made a mad dash to the net. Miller was able to find Amanda Tuck who fired a shot over the head of Fiorinelli to make the score 13-12 in favor of the Jaspers with 23 seconds left in the game.
Again, Marist won the next draw control and looked for an equalizer. Tuck tried to repay the previous favor by feeding Ashley Miller who fired a point blank shot that Fiorinelli was able to save with nine seconds on the clock. The freshman keeper attempted to hold the ball for the final moments but was called for stalling giving the Red Foxes one final chance with one second remaining. Miller had control on the near left side of the cage and on the whistle sent a shot that hit the side of the net, preserving a Manhattan victory.
As a team, Manhattan forced 14 turnovers while committing 12 of their own and picked up 14 ground balls to Marist's 16. Both squads were effective on the clear,as the Jaspers were 12-17 and Marist was 9-12, and on the free position shot. Manhattan scored on a all five of their attempts while the Red Foxes were 5-10 in theirs.
Fiorinelli had yet another double-digit save game making 10 for her third victory of her career while Casiano stopped five in net for Marist.
The Jaspers will again hit the road on Sat., April 7, when they travel to Loudonville, N.Y. for a 1 p.m. date with MAAC rival Siena.
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