PRINCETON, N.J. – Manhattan led at the half against No. 4/3 Princeton, then the Tigers scored eight in the third quarter to lift them to a 14-9 win on Tuesday night.
Joseph Persico continued his strong play to start the season despite the result. The graduate student, starting his third career game, made 17 saves, including 11 in the first half.
Manhattan (2-1) started fast with a
Tadhg O'Riordan goal 12 seconds in and a
Scott O'Connor goal at the 1:35 mark of the game. O'Connor's goal was the first of his career and came after the Manhattan defense forced a failed clear by Princeton.
Kevin Jaffe picked up a rebound in front and made it 3-0 Jaspers inside the first four minutes with his first of the season.
Princeton (2-0) got on the board with 8:27 remaining in the opening stanza. The teams then traded goals, as Manhattan led 4-2 after the first.
The Jaspers maintained the lead in the second quarter and into the half as
James McCoy converted a man-up opportunity with five minutes to play to make it 5-3 Jaspers. Persico kept the Jaspers in the lead with seven saves in the second.
In the third quarter, the Tigers scored twice in 10 seconds to take a 6-5 lead. Braedon Saris gave the Tigers their first lead of the night, one they would not relinquish.
Manhattan got within one twice at 7-6 and 8-7 in the third.
Kelly DuPree and
Drew Hiner supplied the tallies. Princeton responded to Hiner's goal at 8-7 with four straight goals to take a 12-7 lead into the fourth.
Neither team scored in the first nine minutes of the final stanza.
Sean Shelko scored twice in 12 seconds to get the Jaspers within three, 12-9, with 5:44 left. Shelko's first of the season was assisted by
Kyle Gucwa, and
Liam Walshe provided the assist on Shelko's second.
Princeton responded less than 90 seconds after Shelko's second to thwart the Jasper comeback attempt.
Alexander Vardaro paced the Tigers' offense with four goals, and four other Tigers recorded three points.
Shelko was the only Jasper to score twice. Gucwa finished three assists. Hiner, like O'Connor, scored his first career goal.
The Jaspers open the Gaelic Park portion of their schedule on Saturday against NJIT.
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @ManhattanMLAX and Instagram @Manhattan_Lacrosse.
