RIVERDALE, N.Y. –
Anthony Denis filled the role of hero at Gaelic Park Saturday afternoon, netting the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute to propel the Jaspers to a key MAAC triumph over defending champions Marist, 2-1.
In the 73rd,
Ronaldo Da Silva fired off a shot on track to go wide of the net, but the foot of Denis was there to redirect the shot into the net and take the lead. Denis has now scored in two consecutive matches in addition to playing a full 90 minutes this afternoon.
The Jaspers improve to 6-4-3 on the year, 4-1-1 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes fall to 5-6-1 in the MAAC, 1-4-0. Manhattan sits at 13 points in the MAAC, and with Niagara drawing with Rider today, the Jaspers are now in sole owners of first place.
"Today was a special day for many reasons. First, we had amazing support from our alumni and those on campus for family weekend. Secondly, we were playing the reigning MAAC Champions on our home field in a game that sets the benchmark for the level we want to compete against," said head coach
Jorden Scott. "And finally, to have the chance to win and push ourselves to the top of the league standings was a moment we had live through and experience in order for us to continue growing as a team. We found a way to win when not at our best today, and I'm proud of the reaction we continue to have when faced with adversity. We only focus on Quinnipiac now - that's our next challenge."
It was a relatively uneventful first half, with the most notable event being during a charge on net by
Gunnar Studenhofft, Marist's Demarre Montoute challenged from behind and incurred a red card, ending his match early and putting the Red Foxes down a man for the remainder of the game.
The second half was an action-packed 45 minutes. The Red Foxes took the lead following a man-down goal off the foot of Hugo Guerra, who booted it from far outside the box over the head of the Jaspers'
Danny DiMarco to take a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute.
Scott's club stayed focused, and they responded just over a minute later.
Vladimir Lee crossed the ball into the box, and
Ensa Sanneh was there at the far post to put the equalizer away off his first shot of the season.
Manhattan will look to stay hot at Gaelic Park on Wednesday, Oct. 19, against Quinnipiac at 6 p.m.
