Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Jaspers dropped a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contest to the Canisius Golden Griffs 9-4 on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Jaspers fall to 2-9 on the season, and 1-2 in conference play.
Canisius used a 4-0 run over the first 5:09 of the third quarter to extend their 3-1 halftime lead to a 7-1 advantage. Two of the four goals in that span came on extra man opportunities. Despite a persistent effort by the Jaspers to inch closer and decrease the deficit to four goals, the Golden Griffs netted two of the game's final three scores to put the game out of reach.
Jeff Edwards and Vince Gravino scored once apiece during the Golden Griffs' 4-0 run. Billy Jacobbi scored two man-up goals 2:08 apart from each other to conclude the Canisius spurt. Edwards and Gravino scored back-to-back goals on three separate occasions, as each player recorded a hat trick on the afternoon.
Manhattan struck back with goals from senior Pat Hodapp and sophomore Nick Strano to bring the Jaspers to within four at 7-3, but Canisius would go on to score the next two to take back the six goal edge at 9-3.
Senior Ryan Payton scored his team-leading 15th goal of the spring with 7:57 to play in the fourth quarter. The score came while the Jaspers were a man up.
The Jaspers offense struggle to get into a rhythm, especially in the first half. Manhattan didn't score its first goal of the day until junior Marcel Godino buried one past Canisius goalkeeper Alex Govenettio with :56 remaining in the second quarter.
Senior Sean McMahon led the team with six ground balls and two caused turnovers. Senior starting goalkeeper Rich Akapnitis stood strong in cage for Manhattan with 10 saves in the game.
Manhattan returns to action on Tuesday, April 8, when the team heads to Easton, Pa., to battle the Lafayette Leopards in nonconference play. The opening draw is slated for 7 p.m. Following Tuesday's road contest, the Jaspers will return home to conclude their 2014 schedule with three consecutive home games against MAAC opponents.
