Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. – In their first match of the 2013 season, the Manhattan men's soccer team fell to Army, 2-0, in a fast-paced contest at Clinton Field. Both teams played at a very quick and physical pace with 28 total fouls occurring.
Throughout the first half, each squad put pressure on the other as they jockeyed for that opening strike. The Jaspers (0-1) looked to take the early momentum earning two corner kicks in the first four minutes. Junior midfielder Jake Scavetta connected on a shot off the first attempt that sailed wide before Reese Akers sent one over the crossbar moments later. Manhattan continued to put the pressure on when freshman Eli Bunton blasted a ball from 20 yards out but was turned aside by Army keeper Winston Boldt.
The Black Knights (2-0) then went on the offensive taking three shots in a span of two minutes. After a Nick Williams header missed high, Tommy Jaeger and Sean Mogan each had attempts blocked by the Manhattan defense. They were finally able to break through in the 23rd minute when Jason Lewis headed home a Mogan cross that beat freshman goalie Alex Coates McDowall for the 1-0 advantage.
That score would hold heading into the half with Bunton having the only remaining shot, missing wide. Out of the break, the Jaspers intensified their efforts once more. Daniel Laguna Kennedy was able to get free at the right corner of the penalty area and send a shot towards net but it skipped just up and over the crossbar. He would come close on two other occasions with Boldt deflecting each attempt.
For a large portion of the second half, Manhattan played in the Black Knights defensive third looking for an equalizer. However, in the 73rd minute the tide began to turn in favor of the home team. A corner kick from the foot of Peter Lee found the head of Cameron Niccum and missed wide of the net. Less than 90 seconds later, Coates McDowall was forced to make consecutive saves in the box to keep it a one goal deficit.
Then, in the 79th minute, Army took a free kick in their own end and started racing up field. Nick Baietti sent a low cross to the right side of the penalty box where Mogan was able to beat the keeper to the lower left corner. The Jaspers continued to press for the final 10 minutes but to no avail.
In total, Army outshot the Jaspers 12-10 with Manhattan taking seven corner kicks to the Black Knights' six. Coates McDowall made two saves in his collegiate debut while Boldt deflected four shots for his second clean sheet of the season. Laguna Kennedy led all Manhattan players with three shots, placing two on goal.
Manhattan (0-1) returns to action on Fri., Sept. 6 when they travel to Newark, Del. to take on the University of Delaware.
