Jaspers Knock Off Presbyterian, 10-6

Box Score 

CLINTON, S.C. ? After trailing at halftime for the third straight game, the Manhattan College men's lacrosse team (2-4) responded with eight goals in the second half to snap its two-game losing streak with a 10-6 victory over Presbyterian (0-7) at Old Bailey Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.  Joe Variano (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) led the Jaspers' comeback effort with a hat trick.

Variano got the Jaspers on the board first barely a minute into the game before Presbyterian scored a pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead.  Mike Llewellyn (Brookhaven, N.Y.) recorded an unassisted tally for the Jaspers in the final minute of the first quarter to tie the game at 2-2.  The Blue Hose took a 4-2 halftime lead after a pair of second quarter goals by Sean Mulford.

The third quarter was all Manhattan.  The Jaspers outshot the Blue Hose 12-5 in the frame and outscored Presbyterian 4-0 during the quarter.  It didn't take long for Manhattan to tie the game, as Variano and Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.) scored 30 seconds apart less than two minutes into the half.  Manhattan took the lead when Variano took a feed from James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) and found the back of the net at the 11:42 mark.  Synowiez added a goal of his own at the 7:19 mark to give the Jaspers a 6-4 lead.

Presbyterian cut its deficit to one on Casey Minick's tally 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the Jaspers scored the next four goals to build a comfortable 10-5 advantage.  The Blue Hose got a late tally from Devin Pinkston to round out the scoring.

Manhattan outshot Presbyterian 51-21 and held a 36-34 advantage in ground balls.  Mike Llewellyn had two goals, while Synowiez tallied a goal and two assists.  Brett Miranda (Ossining, N.Y.) and Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) each added a goal and an assist for the Jaspers.  Steve Sternberg (Easton, Conn.) recorded a team-high six ground balls and caused three turnovers.  Angelo Marrano (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) collected five ground balls and went 8-1 on faceoffs, as Manhattan won 13 of the 18 faceoffs in the game.  John Geagan (Seaford, N.Y.) and Troy Orzech (Franktown, Colo.) each saw time in goal.  Geagan made the start, allowing four goals and making five saves in the first half, while Orzech (2-0) earned the win after making six saves and surrendering just two goals in the second half. 

Mulford (two goals), Pinkston (one goal, one assist) and Andrew Athens (one goal, one assist) each had two points for the Blue Hose.  Tanner Gard posted four ground balls and caused four turnovers, while Dave Hahn also gathered four ground balls.  Drew Tobias caused three Manhattan turnovers.  Goalkeeper Jon Athens (0-7) made 21 saves and corralled a team-high six ground balls.