RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan emerged victorious against Quinnipiac on Saturday afternoon in a high-scoring affair at Gaelic Park. The Jaspers rolled to a 20-15 win, marking their highest goal total in a game this season.
Bolstered by two goals each from Meghan Rodino and Reagan Mullins, Manhattan jumped out to a 7-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. Meanwhile, Grace Lipponer continued her scoring ways this season, adding three more goals over the first 30 minutes of play. Her second of the game came less than a minute into the second quarter and extended Manhattan's lead to 8-1.
Then, Lipponer broke through a few minutes later and halted a 4-0 scoring run by the Bobcats, which temporarily cut the Manhattan lead to three.
Overall, the second quarter featured 12 goals between both teams as Quinnipiac continued to chip away at the Manhattan lead. Midway through the quarter, the Bobcats launched a 3-0 scoring to get within one at 10-9, before Julia Fernandes secured her second goal of the quarter to keep the Jaspers in front 11-9 at halftime.
The Jaspers created separation in the third quarter by scoring five times while keeping the Bobcats scoreless. In the third quarter, the Jaspers' passing efforts were on full display, with three of those five goals coming off assists as part of their nine-assist performance. Rodino contributed two more goals in the third quarter to help fuel the attack, and the Jaspers went into the fourth quarter with a 16-9 lead.
After the Jaspers expanded their lead to 20-10 with eight minutes left, Quinnipiac made one last comeback bid, scoring the game's final five goals before falling short.
In Manhattan's best offensive showing of the season, Lipponer finished with six goals, Rodino had four, and Mullins registered a hat trick. Ashley Gambardella earned 10 saves in net en route to victory.
Lipponer and Rodino have combined for 78 goals on the season, with the former at 46 and the latter at 32.
Sophia Iaccino led the Bobcats with four goals, while Desiree Kleberg and Sydney Skalstad added hat tricks.
The Jaspers are now 9-4 with a 3-1 record in MAAC play. They will host Iona on Tuesday, April 12, at 3 p.m. at Gaelic Park.