Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - An early Rutgers barrage was too much for the Manhattan men's lacrosse team to overcome, as the Jaspers (0-1) fell 15-6 in their season opener on Sunday. The game marked the first in the Division I head coaching career of Steve Manitta.
The first half was controlled by the Scarlet Knights (1-0) who jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Steve DiGiovvanni notched the first of his two goals as his shot ricocheted off of sophomore goalkeeper Michael Wiatrak's stick and into the net for the opening score of the game. He would then be followed by Nicholas DePaolera before Benjamin Schwing made it 3-0 Rutgers with 1:28 remaining in the first quarter.
In the second, Brian Goss scored 46 seconds into the frame to make it a four goal advantage. Manhattan would snap the shutout as Patrick Hodapp fired a point blank shot that was saved by Kris Alleyne. A scramble for the ground ball ended when senior Paul Moreau flicked the loose ball into the net to make the score 4-1 with 7:01 remaining in the half. Rutgers however would respond with two more goals in the final two minutes of the half from Nick Kilkowski and DiGiovanni to take a 6-1 lead into halftime.
Out of the break, Rutgers added to their advantage when Depaolera scored 15 seconds into the third. The Jaspers would then begin their march towards a comeback. Marcel Godino started the scoring with an unassisted goal, his first of the season. Senior Tyler Jarvis would follow, finishing a feed from Brett Madarasz to cut the gap to 7-3.
After Manhattan forced a Scarlet Knight turnover, Andrew Hurst worked his way around the cage and buried a shot to make it a three goal deficit. The Jaspers would get just a little closer when Godino fed Jarvis for his second goal of the game with 7:11 remaining in the third.
However, it would not be enough to overcome the Knights as Rutgers would go on to score eight of the final nine goals in the game. Long-stick midfielder Sean McMahon would score the only other goal for the Jaspers with 10:05 remaining in the fourth. Rutgers' DePaolera finished with a game-high five goals, as nine different Knights scored. Manhattan was led by Jarvis' two goals. Godino also finished the game with two points, including an assist.
In his first start of the season, Wiatrak saved 17 shots while Alleyne made 13 for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights dominated the faceoff winning 22 of 25, while picking up 28 ground balls compared to the Jaspers 14. Both teams man-down defense held strong as each squad was 0-2 on the extra-man opportunity. Manhattan was 15-16 on the clear while Rutgers was 18-18 in their attempts.
The Jaspers continue their season as they travel to West Point, N.Y. on Wed. Feb., 13 when they take on Army.
