Tappan Zee, N.Y. (March 31, 2007)?History repeated itself once again as the annual Manhattan-Siena MAAC match-up was decided by a single goal for the fourth consecutive season. Unlike the previous three meetings, however, it was the Siena Saints that came out on top, winning 10-9 on Saturday afternoon.
With less than eight minutes to play in regulation and Manhattan trailing 10-7, senior Jeremy Marrano made a valiant attempt at evening the score.
Marrano, who scored five goals on eight shots during the afternoon, pulled the Jaspers within two at the 7:37 mark when he came around the right side of the cage and beat Siena goalie Brent Herbst. With 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, Marrano beat Herbst once again to make the score 10-9.
After the Manhattan defense forced Siena attackman Matt Girsch into a turnover with only nine seconds to play, the Jaspers quickly advanced the ball up into the Siena circle where Marrano had one final chance at notching the equalizer. Herbst stood tall denying Marrano on the doorstep as time expired.
Scoring was at a premium early on as each side managed only one goal apiece during the opening quarter. Siena drew first blood when Ryan Duggan beat Jasper netminder John Geagan 10:53 into the first quarter.
With only eight seconds remaining in the first period, junior Brian Wynne set up Marrano for the Jaspers' first tally.
After Siena scored the first two goals of the second quarter, Manhattan strung together three consecutive goals compliments of senior Brian Murray, freshman Matt Slane, and rookie Luke Dilillo, giving Manhattan its first advantage of the day at 4-3.
Dilillo's go-ahead goal came with only 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter, but the first-half action was far from over at that point. Siena capitalized off of a couple of Jasper miscues and scored two goals within the final seven seconds of the period to take a 5-4 into the locker room.
The Siena victory was only the second for the Saints during their all-time series with the Jaspers, which dates back to 1998. Entering Saturday's affair, Manhattan had triumphed in the previous eight meetings for an 8-1 series lead.
The Jaspers, now 4-3 overall and 1-2 in MAAC play, return to action on Tuesday, April 3 when they visit Rutgers University for a 7:00 p.m. face-off. Manhattan's next MAAC game is not until April 14 against Mt. St. Mary's College.
