RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Entering MAAC play strong, Manhattan emerged victorious over FDU Wednesday night at Gaelic Park, 2-0, to conclude the team's non-conference portion of the schedule.
The Jaspers improve to 2-3-2 while the Knights drop to 2-5-1.
"To finish our non conference schedule off with a complete performance and win allows us to step into the MAAC with confidence and belief," Said head coach
Jorden Scott following the evening's win. "We have faced some tough challenges and we have learned a lot about how we can get better and truly unite as a team. We are ready for whatever is put in front of us and will rise to the challenge like Jaspers always do."
Manhattan struck early in the first half. In the sixth minute,
Johan Velez netted his second goal of the season by beating the Knights' keeper low. The goal was set up by
Nassim Akki, who tallied his second assist of the season.
Quick strikes were a theme for the Jaspers this evening. The squad's second goal again came early, this time in the second half. In the 52nd minute,
Gunnar Studenhofft got free along the right side and fired a shot low, but FDU's Juan Martin Barahona made the save, but could not corral the rebound. The ball got away from him, and who else, but Velez was there to put away the rebound. Velez has scored in back-to-back games and recorded his first collegiate multi-goal performance.
They say defense wins games, and tonight proved that to be true. The Jaspers' defense held the Knights to six total shots, with three on target. It took FDU until the 43rd minute to register their first shot of the evening. The defense only surrendered three corner kicks.
Danny DiMarco got the nod in net from the coaching staff and turned in his second clean sheet of the season while stopping three shots, all in the second half.
The Jaspers now enter the MAAC portion of its schedule, heading to Rider next Wednesday, Sept. 28, for a 7 p.m. contest.
