Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College men's lacrosse team hung with No. 13 Villanova for three quarters on Saturday night. However, after the Jaspers (4-6) pulled within one early in the fourth, the Wildcats (7-3) scored the final seven goals of the game to post a 14-6 victory at Gaelic Park.
Villanova scored first at the 12:22 mark of the first quarter, but the Jaspers tied the game when Salvatore Spatarella (Rocky Point, N.Y.) connected with Sal Perrotto (Garnerville, N.Y.) a minute later. The Wildcats led 4-1 after the first quarter, but Spatarella pulled Manhattan back within two when he scored at the 11:26 mark of the second quarter. Villanova got that goal back on Mike Brennan's tally with 4:19 remaining in the half, but James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) found the back of the net less than a minute later to trim the Jaspers' deficit to 5-3 at halftime.
Paul Webber notched a quick goal for the Wildcats just 1:27 into the third quarter, but the Sals connected again (Spatarella assisting Perrotto) a minute later to maintain the two-goal margin, 6-4. Villanova pushed the margin back to three when Michael Vigilante's goal made it 7-4 at the 10:00 mark before Manhattan again responded, as Synowiez took an assist from Justin Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) to again make it a two-goal game, 7-5, with 8:31 left in the third quarter.
The Jaspers pulled within one when Spatarella's unassisted tally with 13:43 to go made it 7-6. However, Webber's goal at the 8:30 mark was the first of seven unanswered tallies by the Wildcats that put the game away. Villanova outshot Manhattan 16-3 and outscored the Jaspers 7-1 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats also won seven of the nine faceoffs in the final period.
Perrotto, Spatarella and Synowiez each scored a pair of goals for the Jaspers. Spatarella also had two assists to complete a four-point day. Jon Fiorillo (Painted Post, N.Y.) (4-3) made 13 saves and allowed 12 goals in net. He also collected a team-high seven ground balls.
Webber had four goals to lead the Wildcats. Brennan also tallied four points (three goals, one assist), while Mark Scioscia and C.J. Small both scored a pair of goals. Kevin Cunningham posted a goal and an assist for Villanova. Bryan McCartney and Nolan Vihlen each collected five ground balls, as the Wildcats had a 39-35 edge on the ground. Billy Hurley (4-1) got the start in net, making five saves and giving up six goals.
Saturday night's game was Manhattan's final non-conference tilt of the season. The Jaspers' final five games are all Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contests, starting with a matchup against Mount St. Mary's (6-3, 3-0 MAAC) next Saturday at 4 p.m.
Due to technical difficulties, the live webcast of the game was unavailable. The Manhattan Athletic Department apologizes for the inconvenience.
To follow Manhattan Athletics on Twitter, go to twitter.com/GoJaspers and on Facebook.com search "Manhattan Jaspers."
