Box Score
NEWARK, DEL. – In their first ever meeting the University of Delaware (UDEL), the Manhattan men's soccer team dropped a tough 3-2 decision to the Blue Hens at Delaware MiniStadium on Friday night. Freshman Daniel Laguna Kennedy scored both goals for the Jaspers (0-2) who played their second straight game on the road to start the season.
UDEL jumped out to an early lead in the sixth minute after Ben Sampson connected on a cross from Prince Nartey, beating goalkeeper Alex Coates McDowall to give the Blue Hens an early lead. However, the aggressive play by both teams saw each squad get multiple opportunities. Manhattan was finally able to break through in the 15th minute. Freshman Eli Bunton earned his first collegiate point when he sent a feed from the left side to Laguna Kennedy who buried it home for the first goal of his career.
Both teams would look for that go-ahead goal prior to the half, firing a combined 10 shots in the first frame. The Blue Hens (3-0) peppered the net with six shots forcing Coates McDowall to make four of his six saves in the first. They also earned five corner kicks of their eight in the half.
The score remained tied heading into the break and would stay that way for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Delaware once again was able to go on top when Joe Dipre scored on a deflection, burying a shot into the right side of the net in the 65th minute. It seemed as though they would put the game out of reach when Guillermo Delgado made it 3-1 in the 83rd minute converting on a breakaway shot from Vincent Mediate.
But the Jaspers would not go quietly. Less than five minutes later, Laguna Kennedy settled a ball six yards out and beat keeper Borja Barbero for his second goal of the night. Unfortunately for Manhattan it was too little, too late as that would be the last score of the night for either team.
Delaware outshot the Jaspers 19-7 throughout the game while also earning eight corners while Manhattan didn't have one in the match. Coates McDowall (0-2) made six saves while Barbero (3-0) deflected only two shots, both in the second half. Laguna Kennedy took four of the shots for Manhattan while Bunton, Alex Shackley and Eugene Heerschap also fired attempts. Meanwhile, Delgado led all players with seven shots for Delaware.
A total of six different players also received yellow cards in the physical contest. Shackley, Andrew Santos, Jake Scavetta and Andrew Melitsanopoulos were booked for Manhattan while the Blue Hens saw Jaime Martinez and Delgado each earn yellows.
The Jaspers are back on the road for the last of their season opening three-game road swing on Mon., Sept. 9 when they travel to Syracuse, N.Y. for a date with the 17th ranked Orangemen.
