Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Jaspers fell to the 10th-ranked team in the nation, the Princeton Tigers, 14-8 in their home opener Tuesday night at Gaelic Park.
Princeton put up five goals in both the first and third quarters while holding Manhattan scoreless in each of those frames.
The Jaspers showed plenty of fight in the contest as they scored five consecutive goals to open the fourth quarter. With Manhattan trailing 13-3, Jack Fowler won the opening draw, ran through the Princeton defense, got right to the cage and netted a pretty goal inside top post just :08 in. Over the next four minutes and 31 seconds, Manhattan struck three more times with goals from Levi Radbourne, Brett Madarasz and Pat Hodapp. Stephen Farrell would go on to score with 2:28 remaining to cap off the 5-0 Jasper run and make it 13-8 Princeton, but the Tigers' lengthy runs in the first and third quarters proved to be too much to overcome.
Princeton's Tom Schreiber had a five-point outing posting a goal and four assists. He now has ten points through the first two games of the season. Forest Sonnenfeldt recorded a hat trick for the Tigers as he scored the final two goals of the first half on extra man opportunities as well as the first goal in the second half. The Tigers had three other players score two goals apiece.
Starting goalkeeper Rich Akapnitis played very well in front of Manhattan's cage. Akapnitis was tested frequently and made an astounding 19 saves in the game.
The Jaspers attack was very balanced. Seven players contributed the eight goals in the contest. Madarasz led the way with two goals. Andrew Hurst and Ryan Payton also tallied in the game, with Mike Casson getting the assist on Payton's man-up score. Hodapp had a team-high four points, registering a goal and three assists.
After the game, Jaspers head coach Steve Manitta said, "I'm really proud of the way our guys battled in that game; they fought the whole way through."
The Jaspers are back in action on Saturday, Mar. 1, when they host the Hartford Hawks at 1 p.m. Tickets are on sale the day of the game at Gaelic Park for $5. Attendance is free for Manhattan College students who present their student ID cards at the gate.
