Box Score
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Manhattan men's soccer team dropped a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contest to Fairfield, 3-2, at Lessing Field on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Jaspers move to 1-8-1 and 0-4-0 in conference play. Fairfield improves to 5-3-4, and 2-1-2 against MAAC opponents.
A 79th minute goal by Stags freshman defender Steven Valente off a rebound proved to be the difference in the match. Senior midfielder Jake Zuniga swung a corner into the box, and after an initial chance in front, Valente hopped onto the rebound and slotted it into goal.
Manhattan's best opportunity to level the game in the final 10 minutes came in the 90th minute, when senior captain Tommy Amos' effort was stopped by Fairfield junior goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Junior captain Alex Shackley got the scoring started on the evening, netting the opening goal in the 7th minute of the match. His score broke a 587-minute goalless drought for Manhattan. Shackley controlled a ball that was misplayed by the Stags deep in their own third, and buried the ball into the net.
The Jaspers lead was rather short-lived, as Fairfield found the equalizer 16 minutes later. Freshman midfielder Jonathan Uy provided an elegant one-touch finish, sneaking the ball inside the left corner, off a Zuniga cross in the middle of the 18-yard box.
The Stags took the lead before the first half whistle sounded, when freshman forward Ben Wignall found goal from 12 yards out. Again, it was Zuniga's cross that found a teammate in the area. Wignall provided a nice finish.
Manhattan would not go down quietly, as senior Eugene Heerschap sought to draw the Jaspers level in the 56th minute, but saw his effort ring off the post to keep the score at 2-1. 20 seconds later, the Jaspers nearly missed on another opportunity to equalize, when a Shackley corner landed to sophomore Andrew Melitsanopoulos, who's attempt smashed off the bar and was cleared by the Stags.
The Jaspers found a way to knot the game at 2 in the 66th minute, courtesy of a wonder strike by Shackley, who found goal from 25 yards out, for his second tally of the night.
The Jaspers took 10 shots over the final 45 minutes of play in a relentless offensive effort away from home. Turner made key saves on Amos and freshman Jose Meza over the last 25 minutes, while the late goal secured the win for the Stags. Shackley and senior Jake Scavetta also saw chances sail high in the final 20 minutes of the contest.
Manhattan outshot Fairfield 15-9 on the night and held a slim 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
The Jaspers return to the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 18, when they host Rider (5-5-2, MAAC 2-3-0) for a 3 p.m. affair at Gaelic Park.
