Manhattan University Athletics

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Lowell, MA - Manhattan trimmed a five-goal deficit to two on a pair of occasions late in the fourth quarter but was unable to get any closer in dropping an 11-9 decision at UMass Lowell at Cushing Field.

The Jaspers are now 3-4 and will host Monmouth in their MAAC opener next Saturday at 1:00 pm while the River Hawks improve to 3-3. 

Freshman Austin Collard (Wakefield, MA / Wakefield Memorial) led the visitors with a career-high three goals while junior Parker Giarratana (Delray, FL / Boca Raton Community) and sophomore Luke Hanson (Middletown, NY / Minisink Valley) each had two goals and an assist to round out the Manhattan multi-goal scorers.

Trailing 10-5 entering the fourth period, the Jaspers forced a turnover on the opening possession before Giarratana scooped up a ground ball and fired it past the keeper. UMass Lowell would have an opportunity to answer the score only to be denied by senior Michael Zingaro (Cortlandt Manor, NY / Walter Panas) while helping transfer the momentum to the Manhattan offense.

Freshman Jake Nicolosi (West Islip, NY / West Islip) followed with a score off a pass from his former prep teammate sophomore CJ Scharf (West Islip, NY / West Islip). The Jaspers then forced a turnover on the ensuing possession and Giarratana would take advantage in scoring off a Trevor Pelletier (Miami, FL / Gulliver Prep) pass to make it a 10-8 game with just 8:44 to play.

Unfortunately, UMass Lowell would finally dent the scoreboard in the fourth quarter in extending its lead out to 11-8 with 6:25 to play.

Collard with get that goal back with his third score at the 3:40 mark but it wasn't enough as Manhattan's comeback attempt fell short.

Zingaro was outstanding again, recording 12 saves to go along with a team-high seven ground balls.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Giarratana now has 72 goals, 34 assists and 22 multi-goal games.
- The Florida native moved past James Synowiez into seventh place (106 points) on the all-time Manhattan scoring list.
- Zingaro registered his 33rd career double-digit save performance.
- Manhattan outscored UMass Lowell 4-1 in the fourth period and owns an 11-2 advantage in the final stanza over the last four games.
- The Jaspers forced 11 turnovers after halftime, which led to four goals.
- Junior Dylan DeMuro (Yorktown Heights, NY / Archbishop Stepinac) had five ground balls while freshman Luke Pacher (Williston Park, NY / Chaminade) had four.
- After being outshot 28-12 over the first two periods, Manhattan owned 20-11 advantage in attempts after halftime.
- Jon Phillips scored a game-high five goals with an assist to pace the River Hawks.
- Hunter Braun made 12 saves in earning the win.

UP NEXT
Manhattan will host Monmouth on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00 pm.