Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College women's soccer team started its season with a 2-0 victory over Wagner at Gaelic Park on Friday night. The Jaspers scored in each half and played calm, controlling defense to improve to 1-0 on the season.
After 15 minutes of action mainly in the Jaspers' attacking end, Manhattan had the best early chance when Shannon Garrity broke loose on the right wing. Garrity fired a hard shot but Wagner goalkeeper Katie Marcy was able to corral it and keep the match scoreless.
The Jaspers broke through under the 10-minute mark when Colleen Kavanagh carried the ball into the center of the field and saw Marcy coming off her line. Kavanagh then lofted a brilliant strike from 25 yards away into the upper left-hand corner of the net to put the Jaspers in front, 1-0.
To start the second half, Wagner controlled possession for the early part of the half before the Jaspers struck again midway through the half. Erica Modena slid a through ball to Aislinn McIlvenny down the right-hand side. McIlvenny then calmly threaded through the Wagner defense and fired a low shot to the far post that gave Manhattan a 2-0 advantage.
Wagner forced Manhattan goalkeeper Kristen Skonieczny to make just one save in the shutout.
"The game was composed. It was calm. We won balls, got after it in transition," head coach Brendan Lawler said after the game. "It was really positive to see."
The Jaspers are back in action on Sunday, August 24 at Fordham for a 5 p.m. match.
NOTES:
Manhattan won its season opener at home for the second straight season ... the Jaspers scored two goals in their season opener for the second straight season ... freshmen Nicole Aylmer and Emily Center provided strong support along the back line in their collegiate debuts ... junior Taylor Salkowsky and sophomore Lauren Barton also played pivotal roles on defense in the shutout ... the Jaspers avenged a 2-1 loss at Wagner last season.
