RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon with an 11-8 win over NJIT.
"We are always happy with a win. I was pleased that in the second half, every time they came at us, we responded. We will get back to work [this week in practice] as we got another huge game next week", said head coach
John Odierna.
Kyle Gucwa tallied six points to pass 100 career points in the Green and White. Gucwa is the 12
th player in program history to reach the plateau. Gucwa reached 100 points on his second goal of the game, which came in the second quarter.
Odierna added, "I am thrilled for Kyle. He is our hardest worker and has every bit of the success that he has achieved."
Manhattan (3-1) started quickly. The Japers scored the game's first four goals and didn't allow NJIT (0-4) to get on the board until 3:36 remained in the opening stanza. The four goals came from four different scorers:
Quinn Bowler,
Liam Walshe,
Christian Clifford, and Gucwa.
The second quarter was more of the same. Manhattan scored seven seconds in to take a 5-2 as
Scott O'Connor scored his first of the season. NJIT was held scoreless until the 54 seconds remaining as Manhattan enjoyed a 7-3 lead at the break.
The teams then alternated goals in the third quarter. Manhattan led 10-6 after three and scored inside the first four minutes of the fourth to make it 11-6. Bowler added his second of the game and season for the Jaspers on the man-up opportunity.
Outside of Bowler's goal, the Jaspers only got two more shots on goal in the final quarter. The Highlanders pulled within three with two goals inside the final two minutes.
Ten different Jaspers got on the scoresheet. Gucwa's six points led the attack.
Liam McDonough,
Kelly DuPree, Walshe, and Bowler had two points.
Joseph Persico made nine saves in goal for the Jaspers. Seventeen of NJIT's 33 shots made their way to Persico.
Manhattan does not play again until next Saturday, Mar. 4, at Bryant at 1 p.m. in Smithfield, R.I.
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @ManhattanMLAX and Instagram @Manhattan_Lacrosse.
