POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Manhattan women's lacrosse team struggled offensively, falling 22-8 to Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Wednesday afternoon. It was the fifth straight loss for the Jaspers (3-10, 0-3 MAAC) who now return home for two games.
The game began on the right foot for Manhattan as Carly Eskenazi gave her squad an early 1-0 advantage just 49 seconds into the contest. However, the Red Foxes (6-8, 3-1 MAAC) would score the next four, taking a lead they would not relinquish. After another Eskenazi goal cut the deficit in half with 22 minutes to play in the first, Marist reeled five more goals including three from Kirsten Viscount to go up 9-2.
Megan Yarusso would end the run finishing a feed from Donna Jo DiNorcia at the 6:17 mark of the first before Marist ended the half scoring three of the next four goals. DiNorcia tallied the only other Jasper goal of the first thanks to a Stefanie Ranagan pass, sending the game into halftime trailing 12-4.
Out of the break Marist went on the offensive again scoring seven of eight goals to go up double digits, inducing a running clock. Kelsey Rehain scored the lone Manhattan goal over that span, which had cut the lead to 13-5 with more than 28 minutes left in regulation.
Trailing 19-5 with under 15 minutes remaining, Yarusso notched her second tally of the game at the 11:13 mark of the second half. Maria Toscano and Ali Griffin would also have goals for Manhattan in final 10 minutes with Griffin's score coming as the final horn sounded.
Both Yarusso and Eskenazi paced the offense with two goals each while DiNorcia (1 goal, 1 assist) also added a multi-point effort. Marist was led by Viscount's five goals as 11 different players scored, including seven with multiple goals. Tierney Larson had an eight point day for the Red Foxes registering seven assists.
Manhattan was strong on the draw, winning 17 of 30 and being a perfect 14-14 on clear attempts, but were done in by 17 turnovers as Marist picked up 23 ground balls to the Jaspers' 11. Ashley Casiano made six saves in net for the Red Foxes playing in just under 40 minutes before giving way to Liz Holmes who made three saves late. Sophomore Christina Fiorinelli deflected seven shots for Manhattan, giving her 267 for her career. That mark moves her into fourth all-time in program history, surpassing Julia DiBernardo's (2010-11) career stops.
The Jaspers will now return home for two straight games, closing out the home portion of their schedule. They will first host MAAC rival Siena on Sat., April 13 at 7:30 p.m. before welcoming Fairfield to GaelicPark at Wed., April 17 for a 7 p.m. tilt.