Box Score
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Manhattan men's soccer team had the first of two chances to make the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament on Wednesday afternoon when they visited archrival Iona. However, the Jaspers (4-10-2, 4-3-2 MAAC) conceded two second half goals en route to a 2-0 loss to the Gaels (10-6-2, 7-2-1 MAAC).
Manhattan looked to control tempo from the start, spending the first 20 minutes primarily in the offensive half. The Jaspers found a couple of chances from distance as both Daniel Laguna Kennedy and Eli Bunton each sent long shots on goal but both were easily saved by Julian Petrello. That trend would continue sporadically throughout the half as Mahattan looked for an early goal.
The Gaels earned their first quality chance in the 21st minute with a long cross into the box but Andrew Santos made a strong move to dispossess Samuel Adjei. Iona got another chance a few moments later but Giovanni Esposito sent his shot wide, keeping the match scoreless after 25 minutes. Momentum began to shift at that point with the Gaels turning up the intensity on offense. After a cross was easily picked up by Alex Coates McDowall, the defense had to stop a number of shots in front.
They would earn another corner kick in the 34th minute that was played away but sent back in on a cross. Fortunately for the Jaspers, Michael Hodgen's header was just off the mark. Adjei again looked to open the scoring, blasting a shot from just outside the box but Caotes McDowall made a leaping save to send the ball over the crossbar. Mahattan would get one last chance in the half when Tommy Amos nut a shot on net from 20 yards out that was stopped by Petrello.
Fresh out of the break, the Gaels were intent on scoring the first goal of the match. After Adjei broke through in the 46th minute, his cross was misplayed by Ignacio Maganto and eventually cleared by the Manhattan backline. Their aggression would pay off in the 49th minute when Adjei sent a low cross through the box from the left that was finished by Castellanos to give Iona a 1-0 lead.
Manhattan had a quality chance at an equalizer in the 53rd minute when Amos earned a free kick just outside the box. His shot was blocked in front however and cleared away. Moments later, a yellow card was issued to Hodgen, giving the Jaspers another set piece. Amos sent a looping cross towards net where Daniel Festa sent a header that missed wide.
The Gaels added another score in the 57th minute when Tommy Martin's diving header off an Adjei cross beat Coates McDowall to the back post. Laguna Kennedy tried to get his team back into the match when Dominic Chavez served the ball into the box from the right side but his shot sailed wide. Chavez later had his own attempt at putting the Jaspers on the board, but his shot from 20 yards away was easily saved by Petrello.
Iona played strong defense and held possession for the majority of the final 25 minutes, with the Jaspers getting one final chance in the 86th minute when Timmy O'Driscoll sent one just over the bar. Manhattan finished the match outshooting the Gaels 19-14 but Petrello made all six saves needed in the victory. Meanwhile, Coates McDowall stopped five of the seven shots put on net.
Manhattan can still end the day in the MAAC Tournament despite the loss. If Saint Peter's defeats Fairfield tonight at 7 p.m. AND Siena looses or draws against Quinnipiac, it will give the Jaspers a spot in the four-team playoff. The Jaspers will conclude the regular season on Sat., Nov. 29, when host Niagara at Gaelic Park, need a win to clinch a postseason berth. It will also be the final home match in the careers of seven Manhattan seniors. Festa, along with Samuel Howard, Stefano Carlacci, Erick Montinard, Christopher Lands, Carlo Giachino, and Sean Towey, will all be honored for their contributions to the program in a ceremony prior to the 1 p.m. start.
