Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan College men's lacrosse team dropped its fifth MAAC Tournament appearance falling in the semifinals 11-2 to Canisius (9-5) this afternoon in Loudonville, N.Y. Golden Griffins' freshmen Adam Jones and Nick LoCoco combined for five goals helping Canisius get past the Jaspers. Manhattan underclassmen Michael Llewellyn and Salvatore Spatarella each tallied a goal in the Jaspers first tournament appearance since 2005.
Manhattan (6-9) entered intermission facing a 4-1 deficit with the team's lone goal coming off Llewellyn's stick marking his 10th of the 2008 campaign. Brian Wynne, a senior midfielder, set up the play with a crafty assist leading to the score at the 8:49 mark in the second half.
Jones scored two of his three goals over the first half of action.
The squads traded goals early in the third quarter, the first coming from the Golden Griffins with 11:46 on the clock. Alex Caldiero got open space, and sent a shot into the back of the net to extend the Golden Griffins lead to 5-2.
Spatarella, the Jaspers' leading goal scorer, responded just over two minutes later with his 17th score of the season to bring Manhattan back within two.
This proved to be as close as the Jaspers would get as Canisius rallied for six unanswered goals to earn a nine goal decision, and first berth into the MAAC Championship game.
Senior midfielder Shawn Gorinson delivered a brilliant performance winning 13 of 17 face-offs for the Jaspers. He paced the squad with a team-high six groundballs.
Chris Courteau earned the win in net for Canisius finishing with 10 saves on the afternoon, while Manhattan goalkeeper John Geagan was credit with the loss. Geagan notched six saves and picked up three groundballs.
Jaspers' starting defenseman Corey Dolik and Steven Sternberg each picked up five groundballs and combined for three caused turnovers.
