RIVERDALE, N.Y. - For the Manhattan College men's soccer team (0-4-0), a nearly perfect start was washed away by a lightning-quick wave of second half goals, in a 4-1 defeat to Stetson University Friday night.
The first of two games for the Jaspers this weekend as they participate in the Stetson Soccer Classic in DeLand, Fla., Manhattan set the tone with a one-goal advantage late in the first half but surrendered four unanswered early in the second, three to junior Fredrik Brustad, to fall victims for the fourth straight game.
"We had a great start to the game going up a goal. In the second half, we gave up four goals in the first five minutes or so and that was it," coach Ashley Hammond said. "Overall, it was a well played match and we doubled our shots from the previous match."
Having been shutout in their previous two matches, Manhattan was determined to erase their early season scoring woes against a tough opponent on the road. A defensive battle early, the Jaspers made good on their declaration with their second goal of the season in the 35th minute.
Off a free kick, senior midfielder and captain Joshua Renner struck a twisting ball to the fall right corner and passed the grasp of Hatters' freshman goaltender Andreas Schnabl for a 1-0 advantage. It was his first goal of the season and the team's first lead since the 12th minute of their season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson University.
With freshman goaltender Christopher Lands, making two of his eight saves in the initial 45 minutes, Manhattan took the one-goal lead into halftime. However, on this night the feeling would be short lived.
Stetson (2-1-1), already having scored 10 goals against an opponent earlier this season, unleashed a devastating counterattack led by the sensational skills of Brustad, the Atlantic Sun's Preseason Player of the Year, to open the second half and take control of the game for good.
In the 49th minute, off a scramble in front of the Manhattan box, sophomore Kai Eckenrode squeezed through the Jaspers' backline and found himself alone with the loose ball for an easy tap-in and a 1-1 tie. It was the midfielder's third of the year.
From there, the host school used a hat trick from their Norwegian striker to cruise to victory. Less than 30 seconds after their first goal, Brustad connected on a one-timer from Eckenrode, his second of the year, beating Lands far side to make the score 2-1 Stetson.
Immediately following the re-start, Brustad added another off a quick strike to help the Hatters' take a two-goal advantage with a 3-1 score. While the first two goals stunned Manhattan, the third was of the "put-away" variety and a sign that on this night, there would be no comeback.
With momentum in his favor and a hat trick on his mind, Brustad finished the deed in the 54th minute off a pass from sophomore Jonathan Mendoza. Hit with a pass into space on a run towards the middle, he laced a ball from the left side of the boxed destined for the back of the net and the 4-1 final score. His fourth on the 2010 campaign.
On the positive side for the Jaspers, the numbers tell a somewhat uplifting story. Although they were out shot 21-11, they had twice as many opportunities as their previous match against Bryant University and created excellent chances in the attacking zone.
Coach Hammond also made mention that freshman back Erick Montinard and senior forward Sean Russell played their best games of the season, combining for four shots and one on goal.
Manhattan College takes a day off before facing Atlantic Sun Conference leader Jacksonville University on Sunday at noon.
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