BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Jaspers fell to the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds 15-8 on Tuesday evening. The contest marked Manhattan's final nonconference game prior to the start of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. With the loss, the Jaspers fall to 2-6 on the season.
After an evenly played first half and a 3-3 score at the break, the second frame belonged to the Blackbirds. Mary McQueen scored 2:14 into the second stanza to give the Blackbirds a 4-3 lead. Jenn Peters, who registered a game-high five points, scored :26 later to put LIU Brooklyn up by two. Sophomore Megan Yarusso would bring the Jaspers to within one as she scored on a free position shot just 4:18 into the second, but the Blackbirds offense flew past Manhattan in the ensuing minutes. LIU Brooklyn scored the next four goals, as part of a 6-1 run to open the second half. This gave the Blackbirds a 9-4 lead.
Manhattan would score the next three goals courtesy of two by junior Domenica O'Brey and one from senior Carly Eskenazi. This made it a two-goal game at 9-7, but it was all LIU Brooklyn the rest of the way. The Blackbirds tallied the next six goals to take a 15-7 lead, before freshman Darby Nolan netted a goal for the Jaspers with 1:32 to play.
Shakoya Smith led all players with four scores in the game. Three other players also recorded hat tricks for the Blackbirds.
For Manhattan, Yarusso and O'Brey notched two goals apiece to lead the team. Eskenazi, Nolan, junior Donna Jo DiNorcia and senior Brianna Rickert also scored for the Jaspers.
The Jaspers will next play on Saturday, March 29, when they open their MAAC slate with a contest against the Quinnipiac Bobcats. The opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Hamden, Conn.