Burns, Defense Power Manhattan Over Lafayette

Riverdale, NY - Freshman attacker Cassidy Burns (Massapequa, NY / Plainedge) dished out a career-high six points, senior tri-captain Molly Fitzpatrick (Yorktown, NY / Lakeland) notched a hat trick and the Jasper defense smothered Lafayette to earn a 9-7 win on Saturday afternoon at Gaelic Park.

Manhattan extends its winning streak and is 3-1 on the year. Lafayette suffers its first loss of 2019, falling to 3-1.

Coming into the day, averaging 15 goals per contest, the Jaspers limited the Leopards to seven goals off 25 shots and 23 team turnovers. Senior tri-captain Nikki Prestiano (Yorktown Heights, NY / Yorktown) had another impressive day between the pipes, making eight stops.

Burns, who had one goal coming into the day, collected four assists and a pair of first-half strikes. Her second helper came on Fitzpatrick's score with 17 seconds until halftime that gave Manhattan a 5-4 edge it would hold until the end.

The Kelly Green and White is idle until next Wednesday, March 6 when it tackles Central Connecticut State in New Britain, CT at 4:00 pm.
 

After today's win, freshman Cassidy Burns spoke about her big day and the team's confidence on a three-game winning streak. #JasperNation pic.twitter.com/015tyrvRPe

— Manhattan WLacrosse (@ManhattanWLax) March 2, 2019

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Burns' six points are the most by a Jasper since Sarah Lang '18 dropped nine points in the 17-10 win over Siena on April 14, 2018.
• Fitzpatrick now sits at 99 career goals, passing Phelicia VanOverbeke '11 for seventh place on Manhattan's all-time list.
• The J's have won three consecutive games; their last such streak came from April 14-19, 2009.
• Manhattan has scored nine goals for three consecutive games.
• The Jaspers have allowed less than 10 goals in three straight games for the first since the end of the 2014 season to the 2015 lidlifter.
• Prestiano has collected more saves than goals allowed in all four games this year.
• Fitzpatrick and senior midfielder Caitlin Murphy (Carmel, NY / Carmel) led the way for Manhattan with five ground balls.
• Junior defender Susan Morad (Manassas, VA / Bishop Ireton) caused two turnovers, while senior tri-captain Emma Kaishian (Yorktown, NY / Yorktown) controlled three draws.
• Manhattan held the advantage over Lafayette in shots (26-25), clears (20-15) and saves (8-7).

 

Head Coach Katie McConnell also praised the team's defensive play and the team's offensive development so far this season. #JasperNation pic.twitter.com/15Gdjc1bOf

— Manhattan WLacrosse (@ManhattanWLax) March 2, 2019

 
FIRST HALF

• After junior midfielder Deb Peifer (Collegeville, PA / Methacton) had her shot blocked, Fitzpatrick corralled the ground ball and sent it into the nylon 5:58 into the first.
• Hannah Davey netted the equalizer with 18:24 left in the opening stanza.
• Forty-eight seconds later, Burns rushed from the right side of the net and laced a shot in for her first goal of the contest.
• With the score tied at two at the 10:31 mark and after Murphy's shot hit the post, the Jaspers smothered Elise Ashford in Lafayette's zone, forcing a turnover. Burns got the ball and potted the go-ahead goal.
• Jane Kirby equalized the score at 3 thanks to a free-position tally at 9:38.
• Prestiano extended her pocket high and to the left to make a free-position save on Ashley Ender with 6:34 until halftime.
• On the ensuing possession, sophomore midfielder Carmella Liscio (Blauvelt, NY / Tappan Zee) zipped down the middle, caught a pass from Burns and buried it for a 4-3 lead.

 
SECOND HALF

• Just 1:31 out of the break, Lafayette goalkeeper Quinn Lacy denied Murphy, only for Fitzpatrick to get the loose ball and score to complete the hat trick, making it 6-4.
• Kirby went back to the eight-meter fan for a free-position shot at 24:51, but Prestiano kept her out of the net with a save.
• Ramping up the tempo on offense with a one-goal edge, junior attacker Emily Englert (Somers, NY / Somers) got a feed from Burns and scored to make it 7-5 at 18:53.
• The Leopards' Emma Novick was unsuccessful on a free-position opportunity at 15:41 thanks to Prestiano, who worked to her left and turned aside a low-angle shot.
• Senior attacker Talia Price (Kinnelon, NJ / Kinnelon) earned her second goal of the year off a pass from Burns at 14:07 for Manhattan's largest lead of the day at 8-5.
• Lafayette's Anna Stein earned a free-position attempt at 10:02, but as she passed to her left, Prestiano extended her stick to tip it away, and junior defender Hailey Siemek (Bel Air, MD / John Carroll) scooped up the ground ball.
• Manhattan's final goal of the game came courtesy of Price, her second, with 5:37 remaining to put the Jaspers ahead 9-6.
• After allowing a Jen Rowan goal at the 4:56 mark, the Jasper defense surrendered only two shots the rest of the way.