Lewiston, N.Y. (April 22, 2007)? Brenna Tinari and her fellow seniors knew Sunday afternoon's women's lacrosse contest at Niagara University would be the final regular season game of their careers, but were hoping it wouldn't be their last opportunity to compete for the Kelly Green and White. With six goals and three assists, Tinari was a vital part of Manhattan's 19-9 victory which guaranteed the Lady Jaspers a berth in next weekend's four-team MAAC Tournament.
Thanks to their success on the grueling two-game Western New York road swing, which began with Friday night's 11-10 triumph over Canisius College, this year's senior class has now qualified for the MAAC Tournament in each of their four years of competition, winning the tournament twice in 2004 and 2005.
Tinari and her classmates were fired up from the start, and it showed. Niagara won the opening draw, but their possession ended abruptly thanks to senior Katelyn Williams as she took the ball away from Vanessa Schultz. Williams' takeaway led to the first goal of the day as Tinari found a cutting Kaitlin McGorry in front of the net for the score.
Niagara pulled even Lindsay Hamann converted a free-position attempt with 25:19 remaining in the opening half, but it was only a matter of minutes before the Lady Jaspers kicked it into high gear.
With the game knotted at 1-1, the Purple Eagles won another free-position opportunity, but senior goalie Ashley Devins stoned Emma-Lee Harrison at point-blank range and moved the ball to senior Jenny Carman. Carman, who would net a hat trick before the day was done, single-handedly advanced the ball up field and buried it past Niagara goalie Kristen Engel to give Manhattan a 2-1 lead at the 24:19 mark. The Lady Jaspers never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.
Tinari extended the lead to 3-1 when she came around the cage and put the ball into the upper right corner of the net for her first goal on the afternoon.
It was not long thereafter before senior Lauren Civardi joined the act. Civardi, who finished with three goals and two assists, scored her first of the day with 15:18 left to play in the first half. Civardi's goal, which made the score 4-2, began a spurt of five consecutive Lady Jasper scores, which allowed Manhattan to hold an 8-2 advantage with 5:27 left before half-time.
Harrison scored for Niagara at the 4:19 mark to cut the deficit to 8-3, but then Manhattan freshman Caralyn Hickey joined the scoring blitz scoring, netting a goal for the second straight game 3:17 before halftime.
The second half was more of the same as the Lady Jaspers continued to pad their lead. Manhattan netted the first three goals of the second half, two of which came from Civardi and the other off Carman's stick.
Niagara pulled two within seven goals on two occasions, but did not get any closer during the remainder of the contest.
Devins, who made 15 big stops in Friday's win, made 13 saves on Sunday to pick up the win in net.
Manhattan will be the No. 4 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament. The Lady Jaspers will square off against MAAC Regular Season Champion LeMoyne College when the semifinals commence on Friday, April 27 at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.