NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Manhattan came back from six down to beat Niagara 16-15 in triple overtime in the opening round of the 2022 MAAC Championship.
The win is the first postseason win for the Jaspers since 2005, which was the last MAAC title for Manhattan.
Grace Lipponer scored the game-winner to advance Manhattan (11-7) to the semifinals of the MAAC Championship. Lipponer scored four goals and added two assists. The senior's first goal of the game, in the second quarter, broke the Jaspers' single-season goals record.
Manhattan trailed 10-4 at the half. The Jaspers used a six-goal third quarter to get back into the game and later tied the game at 13, 14, and 15. Lipponer scored with five seconds to play in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
Meghan Rodino had six goals on Saturday. In the third quarter, the senior scored four straight for the Jaspers to turn an 11-6 deficit into an 11-10 deficit for the Jaspers. Rodino's sixth of the game tied the game at 13 with 9:07 remaining in regulation.
Niagara () took a 15-14 lead on Lois Garlow's sixth of the afternoon with just under four minutes to play. Manhattan forced a turnover with 64 seconds to play before getting awarded a free position shot. Lipponer's shot was blocked off the free-position opportunity, but the senior regained control and first a shot past the Purple Eagles' goalkeeper while running right to force overtime.
Ashley Gambardella made 13 saves in goal for the Jaspers. Five of those 13 saves came in the fourth quarter of overtime periods. The junior's final save came with eight seconds to play in the second overtime period to keep the game going.
Andrea Liotta had a career-high 16 draw controls. The recently named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year added two groundballs and a caused turnover.
Up next for the Jaspers is top-seed Monmouth in the semifinals on Friday at 3 p.m. in Loudonville, N.Y.
