RIVERDALE, N.Y. - First year head coach Brendan Lawler and his Manhattan women's soccer team will complete a challenging six game road series this weekend when the Lady Jaspers return to action on Friday at the University of Albany for a 4 p.m. match. Manhattan will then travel to Stony Brook University on Sunday for its second straight contest with an America East opponent.
The Lady Jaspers look to shake off its most recent loss on Sunday where they ran into a hot Navy team in Annapolis, Md. Manhattan has been led by its solid play out of the backline, which has been anchored by upperclassmen Kara Bucci and Devon Lutz who have not missed a start.
Manhattan has also relied on sophomore goalkeeper Kara Davis who has come up with 21 saves in four games and maintains a .750 save percentage. Davis helped guide the Lady Jaspers to a double overtime scoreless tie with eventual tournament champion Towson last Friday at the Navy Invitational. Davis recorded five saves in her sixth career shutout.
"Our defensive effort has been fantastic," said Lawler. "Our overall team shape and individual defending has been good. Defensively we are where we need to be, and we are even improving each time out."
The Lady Jaspers offense has cooled off slightly since scoring three goals in the first two games. Lawler believes it is just a matter of time before the offense comes back around, "We are creating good scoring opportunities. Right now, we are just having a hard time finishing them. We know since the opportunities are there, eventually we will come crashing through the door and the floodgates will open for us."
Caroline Morse and Tara Gleason have been among the most active attackers in the Lady Jaspers' line up. Morse, a senior from Lebanon, N.J., is ranked fourth in the conference averaging 3.0 shots per game and leads Manhattan with 15 shots this season. Gleason is second on the team with seven shots on the year. Morse, Gleason and sophomore Allison Pfeiffer have combined for all three of the Lady Jaspers goals.
The Lady Jaspers have also received some quality minutes from newcomers Claire Reinhard and Alex Iovine. Reinhard has started all five games in a defensive role. She was most recently named to the Navy Invitational All-Tournament Team. Iovine has also given the Lady Jaspers support in the back after moving into the starting line up for the last two contests.
Following this weekend's slate, the Lady Jaspers look forward to next Friday's contest with Bryant at Gaelic Park, which begins a four game homestand. It will be the Lady Jaspers first game back in Riverdale since earning a 2-1 season opening victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Aug. 27.
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