Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Backed by two first half goals by senior co-captain Alex Shackley (Las Vegas, Nev. / Palo Verde), the Manhattan men's soccer team upended Marist, 3-1, on Senior Day at Gaelic Park.
With the win, Manhattan improves to 3-9-1 overall, and 3-5-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Marist drops to 6-8-1, including a 4-3-1 mark against league opponents.
Shackley struck first in the 18th minute when he connected on a sublime strike from 25 yards out. the senior, from just left of straight on, blasted an effort off the bar and in past Marist sophomore goalkeeper Mark Rajovic. The early goal excited the crowd at Gaelic Park and set the tone for the afternoon.
Just before halftime, Shackley netted another goal to put the Jaspers up 2-0 in the 41st minute. Freshman full back Dahrius Waldron (Manchester, England / Loreto) swung a beautiful cross to the far side of the box off a corner kick. Sophomore center back Luke Greaves (Bolton, Lancashire, England / Accrington & Rossendale) headed the ball back into the middle of the box where Shackley proceeded to head the ball inside the post on that same side.
Just past the hour mark, in the 61st minute, Manhattan put the game out of reach when senior forward Brandon Alvarado (Wyckoff, N.J. / Ramapo) found goal after a fabulous alert, individual effort. Alvarado knocked the ball away from Rajovic in the box and was able to steal it and neatly slide it inside the far post to mark his first collegiate goal.
Later in the second half, senior Josh Binfield (Essex, England / Williamsville East) narrowly missed increasing the Jaspers' lead to 4-0, when he smashed a free kick just over the bar from 25 yards.
Marist junior Zachary Reed provided the visitors with a consolation when his cheeky effort snuck inside the far post in the 89th minute.
Senior goalkeeper Robert Maffei (McLean, Va. / McLean) earned the win, the first of his collegiate career, and made three saves in the outing.
Waldron picked up two assists in the match.
Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when the squad hits the road to take on local rival Iona in a 1 p.m. contest.
