Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The seniors started and ended the day in winning fashion, as Manhattan took down the Niagara Purple Eagles, 15-11, in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game at Gaelic Park on Saturday evening. The victory is Manhattan's first in conference play this spring. The Jaspers are now 3-12 overall, and 1-6 against MAAC opponents.
Manhattan used a 5-0 run in the middle of the second half to increase its lead from 8-7 to 13-7 and take a firm grasp on the game. Junior Domenica O'Brey scored twice on the run. Seniors Kelsey Rehain, who had two goals in the contest, and Brianna Rickert, who recorded a hat trick, also chipped in with a goal apiece on the spurt. Sophomore Stefanie Ranagan capped off the run, scoring with 13:27 remaining. Goals by Rickert and senior Maria Toscano in the closing minutes put the game out of reach.
Junior starting goalkeeper Christina Fiorinelli did her part in ensuring the seniors would leave Gaelic Park victorious for the final time by recording 15 saves. She also picked up a game-high six ground balls. Despite receiving two yellow cards in the first half and subsequently being ejected, junior defender Caitlin Hynes was tied with Rehain and two Purple Eagles for a game-high two caused turnovers each.
Junior Donna Jo DiNorcia and sophomore Claire Roediger had matching score lines of two goals and an assist.
In the first half, Rickert opened scoring on the evening, notching a goal just 1:38 into the game. Fellow senior Clare Kerrisk assisted on the tally. The goal started a 4-0 Jaspers run to open the game. Niagara would come all the way back to tie the game at six by halftime.
O'Brey (4G, 1A) of Manhattan and Carrie-Jo Farrugia (3G, 2A) of Niagara had a game-high five points each.
The Jaspers will play their final two contests of 2014 on the road. Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday, April 23, when the team takes on the Iona Gaels in New Rochelle, N.Y. The opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m.
