Iona, Niagara Await Manhattan In MAAC Play This Week

Riverdale, NY – With just over two weeks remaining in the 2018 regular season, Manhattan men's soccer aims to lock down a spot in the MAAC Tournament with games against Iona and Niagara this week.
 
The Jaspers will first host the Gaels at Gaelic Park on Wednesday, October 17 at 7:00 pm. Fans who are unable to attend the game can follow along with a live stream on the Jasper Sports Network and live statistics, and can also follow the program on Twitter at @JaspersSoccer.
 
Manhattan then travels to Niagara Falls, NY to face the Purple Eagles on Saturday, October 20 at 6:00 pm. The game will air on the Niagara Sports Network and have live statistics accompanying the coverage.
 
A Message from Men's Soccer
Forwards Noah Amissah and Oswald Annang have recorded a special message for Jasper Nation in advance of Wednesday's duel with Iona.
 

??Your attention, please! ??

Noah and Ozzy have a special message for #JasperNation regarding Wednesday's game against Iona! pic.twitter.com/zt0IyonXi0
— Jaspers Men's Soccer (@JaspersSoccer) October 16, 2018

 
The Standings So Far
Entering the week, Manhattan is fourth in the MAAC with nine points on a 3-3 record, having alternated wins and losses each game.
 
In the final four matches of the season, the Jaspers' opponents are 10-11-1 in conference play, which includes Fairfield's unbeaten streak.
 
Eyes On History

• Manhattan's next win will be its program-best 11th victory of the season.
• In addition to his pursuit for sole possession of the program's all-time shutout record (one away from 13), goalkeeper Marcellin Gohier is 11 saves away from 100 for his career.
• After setting a new low for goals allowed (16) and shutouts (8) in 2017, the Jaspers have allowed only 10 scores on the year along with seven clean sheets.
• At their current marks, Manhattan's 0.70 GAA and 0.50 shutouts per game would rank in the top 10 in MAAC history (data from 1982-98 and 2001 not included).
• Manhattan is ranked in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll for a program-best seventh straight week, holding in the ninth spot.

 
Komano on the Attack

• Defender Angee Komano scored his first goal as a member of the Jaspers in last Saturday's contest against Marist.
• After not attempting a shot in his first seven games, Komano has launched six shots, two on goal, in his last four matches.
• During that span, the junior has played 379 minutes while assisting in two shutouts.

 
Next Man Up

• Head Coach Jorden Scott has continued to shuffle his starting XI this season, writing in 14 different lineups in 14 games.
• All told, 19 different Jaspers have made their way into the starting lineup, with eight student-athletes in double figures in starts.
• Twenty-three players have seen time on the pitch this year.

 
Scouting Report: Iona

• Iona comes into Wednesday's rivalry matchup at 2-3-1 vs. conference foes and 6-5-2 overall, most recently handing Quinnipiac its first MAAC loss of the year 1-0.
• The Gaels are just 1-4-1 away from Mazzella Field in 2018.
• As a team, Iona is sixth in Division I soccer with 7.69 shots on goal per game and seventh in shot accuracy.
• Killian Colombe is the team leader with five goals and 11 points, while Mauro Bravo, Najim Romero and Tomas Jamett all have three scores in 2018.
• Giuliano Santucci has started each game in goal during conference play, recording a 1.96 GAA with a .655 save percentage in those contests.
• Manhattan is currently riding a three-game unbeaten streak against Iona.
• Last year, the Jaspers defeated the Gaels 1-0 in double-overtime in the team's MAAC opener, as Ryan Shields fired home the game-winner in the 102nd minute.

 
Scouting Report: Niagara

• Niagara is off on Wednesday and will enter the duel with Manhattan at 1-5 in the MAAC and 3-11 on the season.
• The Purple Eagles' lone conference win was a 5-1 rout of winless Monmouth on October 6. Other wins came at Hartford and VMI.
• In each MAAC battle this year, Niagara has ceded more than one goal in five of six matchups.
• Luca Pacheco headlines the Purple Eagles offense with four goals and three assists on the campaign. Mbongeni Tshuma also has four goals on his 2018 resume.
• In 14 appearances on the season, netminder Steve Casey has made 50 saves to the tune of a 1.94 goals-against average.
• In 2017, Manhattan dispatched Niagara 1-0 on Senior Day, with forward Lucas Da Silva netting the game's lone goal in the 28th minute.
• Since 2011, the Jaspers are 5-1 against the Purple Eagles, with all six matches resulting in a shutout. Manhattan has outscored Niagara 11-1 in that span.