Riverdale, NY – Manhattan came out of halftime and took control on both sides of the ball, getting two second-half goals and keeping California Baptist off the board to earn a 3-1 victory in a scorching home opener Monday afternoon at Gaelic Park.
The Jaspers move to 2-0-0 on the young season, while the Lancers wrap up their East Coast road trip at 1-1-0.
Sophomore forward Brandon Joseph-Buadi (Brighton, England / Woodard) netted the game-winning goal in the 58th minute, while junior forward Noah Amissah (London, England / Orleans Park) tacked on an insurance goal 13 minutes later.
On the other side, the Jasper defense held California Baptist to just four shots in the second half, with junior goalkeeper Marcellin Gohier (Pouance, France / CENS) scooping up both his saves in the frame.
JASPER SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS
Manhattan concludes its mini-homestand on Thursday, August 30, when they welcome the defending NEC champion St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers to the Bronx for a 7:00 pm kickoff.
JSN POSTGAME INTERVIEW
FIRST HALFSimon Busch doesn't wear #25, but he scored his first career goal so that's the last thing on his mind ??????? Hear from Simon and Head Coach Jorden Scott after today's game courtesy of the Jasper Sports Network! #JasperNation pic.twitter.com/bf5fIlnOKD
— Jaspers Men's Soccer (@JaspersSoccer) August 27, 2018
- Manhattan broke the ice in the seventh minute. Junior captain Tristan Doran (Jupiter, FL / Benjamin) threw it in from the right sideline. A Lancer tried to deflect in the box, but freshman defender Simon Busch (Duisburg, Germany / Theodor-Fliedner Gymnasium) unleashed a scissor-kick inside the box that blew past netminder Albert Escuin.
- Senior defender Jean-Baptiste Tamas-Leloup (Sainte Bazeille, France / Merignac) cut off a pass intended for a streaking Lancer on the left wing in the 14th minute.
- Tamas-Leloup showed up again two minutes later, stealing a pass before California Baptist penetrated the box.
- The Jaspers rattled off three straight shots beginning in the 28th minute. Senior forward Lucas Da Silva (West Palm Beach, FL / Palm Beach Atlantic) bounced a shot toward Escuin. Joseph-Buadi followed with a pair of strikes that were denied.
- The Lancers equalized in the 42nd minute when Nicklas Haakenstad sent a ball to Linus Mansson in the left corner. He sent it towards the right post and ricocheted in.
SECOND HALF
- Junior defender Adrien Awana (Bordeaux, France / University of Bordeaux) made his Jasper debut coming out of the break and had a nice deflection to break up a Lancer opportunity in the 50th minute.
- The Jaspers went ahead in the 58th minute following a Da Silva corner kick. After an initial clear, Manhattan sent the ball back in. California Baptist tried to swat it away, but an open Joseph-Buadi was open five yards out and sent it home for the 2-1 edge.
- Awana showed up again defensively 19 minutes afterwards. With a Lancer hustling down the middle, Awana caught up to him and dispossessed him to prevent a shot on goal.
- Moments later on the counter, Da Silva passed to his right for sophomore forward Berti Fourrier (Marseille, France / IFC Marseille). The Frenchman crossed left to Amissah, who swung his right foot to tuck it into the left post.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Jaspers handed the Lancers their first Division I loss in program history.
- Manhattan has now won two straight home openers.
- The Jaspers outshot the Lancers 12-8.
- Joseph-Buadi led the team with three shots himself. Da Silva and Amissah also registered multiple shots.
- Manhattan fired six corner kicks for the second straight game.
- Senior Ryan Shields (Wigan, England / Standish Community) cracked the starting lineup for the first time this season.
- Including Awana, freshman midfielder James Cotter (Wigan, England / Hawkley Hall) made his collegiate debut, coming off the bench in the 38th minute.