Annapolis, MD – For the second consecutive season, Manhattan used a second-half strike, this time from newcomer Berti Fourrier (Marseille, France / IFC Marseille), to down Navy 1-0 in the season opener for both sides.
In the 83rd minute, fifth-year senior Troy Carrington (Verona, NJ / Syracuse) found his way past Navy goalkeeper Ian Bramblett. Carrington centered it to the top of the box for Fourrier to break the scoreless tie.
The Jasper defense kept the Midshipmen at bay all night, limiting Navy to just two shots on goal out of 10 total. Preseason All-MAAC Goalkeeper Marcellin Gohier (Pouance, France) earned his seventh career shutout while collecting a pair of saves.
The Jaspers return to action on Monday, August 27 when they face the newly-minted Division I California Baptist Lancers in the 2018 home opener at 11:00 am.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- This is the first time since the 2003 and 2004 seasons that Manhattan has won back-to-back season openers. In that instance, the Jaspers also beat the same opponent (Fordham).
- It is also Manhattan's first season-opening win on the road for the first time since 2003.
- Dating back to 2017, three of Manhattan's last four wins were 1-0 decisions.
- The Jaspers outshot the Midshipmen 15-10. Fourrier and sophomore Brandon Joseph-Buadi (Brighton, England / Woodard) led the way with four shots apiece.
- Juniors Noah Amissah (London, England / Orleans Park) and Milan Devuyst (Ostend, Belgium) were the other Jaspers to register multiple shots on the evening.
- Sophomore Desmond Cole (Aurora, CO / Cherokee Trail) almost gave Manhattan a 2-0 lead with 1:02 remaining with his first shot of the season.
- Manhattan kicked all six of its corners in the first half, including three from senior Lucas Da Silva (West Palm Beach, FL / Palm Beach Atlantic) in the first 18 minutes.
- Four new Jaspers cracked the starting lineup, with the sophomore Fourrier as well as junior Angee Komano (Toulouse, France / Université Montpellier) freshman Thomas Hitchins (Raleigh, NC / Wakefield) and classmate Simon Busch (Duisburg, Germany / Theodor-Fliedner Gymnasium) playing the full 90 minutes.