Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Junior forward Eugene Heerschap netted his second goal of the season in the 44th minute to pull Manhattan even with St. Francis Brooklyn at halftime. But the Terriers (4-2-0) were able to score two second half goals and keep the Jaspers from equalizing for a 3-1 win at Gaelic Park on Sunday.
A very competitive first half saw both teams earn multiple scoring chances. The Jaspers (0-6-0) put a lot of pressure on the St. Francis backline but were unable to put a shot on goal in the first 40 minutes. On the other end, their defense consistently denied the Terriers from getting an early lead. Freshman goalkeeper Alex Coates McDowall made two saves in the first half to keep it a 0-0 game.
As play went on, the physical nature of the game increased as well. It all game to a head in the 41st minute after Andrew Melitsanopoulos committed a foul that was deemed in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Gabriel Bagot beat Coates McDowall to the right side of the net, giving St. Francis a 1-0 advantage.
Manhattan was able to respond less than three minute later. After forcing a turnover, Reese Akers placed a ball from 20 yards out to the right side of the box. Heerschap was able to get behind the defense and fire a sharp-angle shot past Jack Binks to knot up the score.
Out of the break, St. Francis turned up the intensity and controlled much of the pace of play in the second half. In the 59th minute, Bagot went streaking down the left side of the field before passing it off to Viktor Bakkioui. Bakkioui was able to split two Jasper defenders and worked around the keeper before finishing on an open net to put his squad up 2-1.
Looking for an equalizer, the Jaspers immediately went to work earning a corner kick. After Tommy Amos had his shot blocked out of bounds for another corner, Heerschap narrowly missed his second goal of the game over the cross bar. Following a Daniel Festa shot that was saved; St. Francis would eventually capitalize on a counter attack.
The Terriers were called offside in the 72nd minute but regained possession a minute later. Kevin Correa would fire a no-angle shot that was saved by Coates McDowall. He would be unable to corral the rebound and Bakkioui jumped on the loose ball and buried his second goal of the match.
Manhattan did not record another shot in the final 20 minutes as St. Francis Brooklyn's defense consistently took possession away and held on for the win. The Terriers outshot the Jaspers 17-14 in the match but Manhattan earned nine corners, including six in the second half, to St. Francis' two. Binks (3-2-0) was forced to make just one save in the victory while Coates McDowall (0-6-0) made five saves for the second consecutive game.
The Jaspers will now have 10 days off before their next match. Manhattan will welcome in cross-Bronx rival Fordham to Gaelic Park on Wed. Oct. 2 for a 2 p.m. start. It will be the final non-conference match of the season for the squad.
