LEXINGTON, Va. – Manhattan's four-goal fourth quarter lifted it to an 8-6 win at VMI on Saturday.
The win keeps the Jaspers in a tie for first place in the MAAC standings with Mount St. Mary's at 5-1 in league play.
Manhattan (8-3, 5-1 MAAC) got fourth-quarter goals from
Kyle Gucwa,
Quinn Bowler, and two from
Scott O'Connor to clip VMI (5-7, 2-4). The Jaspers trailed 5-4 at halftime but allowed the Keydets to score only once in the second half.
In the VMI goal, Adam Norris was under pressure all day by the Manhattan offense. The Jaspers fired 42 shots, with 25 reaching the goal. Norris made 17 stops, including seven in the third quarter. Norris held the Jaspers scoreless in the third. VMI could not extend its lead in the third as they, too, were held scoreless.
The Manhattan defense limited VMI to only 15 shots on goal and forced 19 VMI turnovers. During the goalless third, the Jaspers limited the Keydets to only four shots, and only one made it on the frame. VMI turned it over five times in the third too.
Bowler broke a 6-6 tie with his second goal of the day with 9:05 to play in the fourth quarter. O'Connor's second goal of the quarter provided the insurance with 3:28 remaining.
VMI's lead at the half came from a pair of goals when it was a man-up in the second.
Christian Lyons did get one back with six seconds to play before the halftime buzzer.
Joseph Persico finished the afternoon with nine saves and lowered his GAA to below eight on the year after allowing only six on Saturday. Seven of Persico's nine stops came in the second half.
Damien Blando scored his first collegiate goal to tie the game at one in the first quarter. After bringing it across the midfield, the long pole fired a shot past Norris. Gucwa finished with two goals and an assist to extended his streak to 41 straight games with at least a point.
The Jaspers return to Gaelic for two MAAC games next week. LIU is the first opponent on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @ManhattanMLAX and Instagram @Manhattan_Lacrosse.
