Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - On a beautiful late summer evening in the Bronx, Manhattan and Fordham needed overtime to crown this year's winner for borough bragging rights. Three minutes into the extra session, the Jaspers' Aislinn McIlvenny put home a penalty kick after a Fordham foul in the box to give Manhattan a 2-1 victory in the season opener for both teams.
Fordham controlled the pace of play early, peppering Manhattan goalkeeper Kristen Skonieczny with five shots on goal in the first 21 minutes of the match. Skonieczny was up to the task, allowing Manhattan to strike first in the 25th minute.
Manhattan received a free kick from about 20 yards out to the right of the Fordham goal. Janie Schlauder played an outstanding ball into the box, finding the foot of Martine Diamond. Diamond then crossed it to Lizzy Carlson, who knocked home her first collegiate goal in her first collegiate game to give the Jaspers a 1-0 advantage.
The next dangerous chance came for Fordham with 14 minutes left in regulation. With the ball lingering in the Manhattan end, Fordham's Mary Solimine found space in front of the net. Solimine fired a rocket from 10 yards out but Skonieczny made a diving stop to knock it away and the Jasper defense ultimately quelled the threat.
Ten minutes later, Fordham found its equalizer. After a scramble on the right side of the goal, Solimine crossed a ball in front to Kristina Maksuti, who fired into an empty net to tie the game at the 3:59 mark.
Fordham earned a corner kick two minutes into overtime but Manhattan was able to counter. After the Jaspers drew a foul in the box, Manhattan gained a penalty kick opportunity. McIlvenny confidently stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the lower left corner of the net, setting off a celebration on the Jasper sidelines.
Skonieczny made 10 saves in all 93 minutes while Ally White and Megan Fitzgerald split time in net for the Rams.
Manhattan will be back in action on Sunday, August 25 against Lafayette at noon in Easton, Pa.
NOTES:
The last four meetings between Manhattan and Fordham have been decided by one goal ... the Jaspers have won their home opener in each of the last four years, including in 2011 vs. Fordham ... while the Jaspers had two goals on two shots on goal, Manhattan earned four corner kicks to two for Fordham ... August 23 was the earliest date to start a season for Manhattan's women's soccer team.
