Manhattan Downs Wagner in Home Opener
from press release
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Senior attacker Phelicia
VanOverbeke and freshman Maria Toscano each had three goals and
sophomore goalkeeper Julia DiBernardo made 11 saves to propel the
Manhattan women's lacrosse team to a 12-7 victory over Wagner in
their home opener Wednesday afternoon.
On a chilly day at Gaelic Park, the Lady Jaspers (1-1) fought back
from an early deficit and put together a run of six unanswered
goals midway through the first period to send the Seahawks (0-2)
home with a loss.
"We came out with great intensity and learned from our first game
at Stony Brook," first-year Coach Victoria Latino said. "Our
freshmen stepped up, our seniors stepped up; we had great
leadership on the field and played awesome today."
Taking over the reigns as head coach after spending four years in
Riverdale as a player, Latino picked up her first collegiate
coaching victory in the triumph over the Staten Island-based
college.
A game of offensive runs, Wagner struck first, scoring three of the
game's four goals to begin play. The Seahawks gained a 1-0
advantage when Erika Bulken recorded an unassisted goal at the
21:58 mark of the period. The Lady Jaspers would quickly respond
when senior midfielder Tara Convery tied the game at 1-all with
21:13 remaining.
After two goals by Seahawks Annie O'Connor and Lauren Petrick made
it 3-1 Wagner at the 16:34, Manhattan would dial up their play,
with five different players accounting for six tallies. Beginning
the comeback was VanOverbeke, who beat Seahawks' goalkeeper Marcela
Hernandez one-on-one to cut the score to 3-2 with 15:44 remaining.
In a strong effort, Hernandez recorded 13 saves.
Making a case for MAAC Rookie of the Week honors, Toscano followed
up VanOverbeke with two of the next three goals. The freshman tied
the game on an assist from VanOverbeke to lock it at 3-all and
after fellow newcomer Carly Eskenazi (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) gave
Manhattan a 4-3 lead, she tallied an unassisted goal to make it 5-3
Lady Jaspers with 11:01 left in the period.
Finishing the first period of play, junior midfielder Elizabeth
Dugan found the back of the net with 2:31 remaining to give
Manhattan a 6-3 advantage heading into the break.
In the second period, Manhattan and Wagner would go goal for goal
in the contest's final 30 minutes. After tallies by VanOverbeke and
Seahawk attacker Leea Sinay in the opening five minutes made it 7-4
Lady Jaspers, the Kelly green and white would put the game beyond
reach with one more scoring burst.
Previewing the future of the Manhattan's women's lacrosse program,
Toscano added her third goal and newcomer Kelsey Rehain chipped in
with back-to-back goals to push the lead to 10-4 at 18:58 of the
period.
Wagner would answer back with three goals, including two more from
O'Connor, but VanOverbeke and Convery added a pair late to guide
Manhattan to the 12-7 victory.
An exciting 60 minutes of lacrosse, Manhattan held crucial
advantages in shots (34-28), groundballs (33-28), turnovers (20-26)
and free-position shots (3-8/0-8).
The Lady Jaspers will hit the road Saturday for a matchup with
Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn. First draw is set for 3 p.m.
