Boosting its overall record to 9-4, the Manhattan College women's lacrosse team topped Central Connecticut State University 10-6 in a match played at CCSU in New Britain, Conn. Tuesday evening. The game turned when Manhattan scored four goals in a row during the final 12 minutes of the contest.
Three Lady Jaspers handled all the goal scoring for Manhattan. Freshman Chrissy Gutenberger tallied four goals, while Caralyn Hickey and Phelicia VanOverbeke each scored three. Gutenberger also caused a game high six turnovers and sophomore Kristen Brenner led the Jaspers with four ground balls. Junior Allison Brown came away with 12 saves and three ground balls in net for Manhattan.
For CCSU (now 1-14 on the season), Michele Conway and freshman Alexa Smead each scored three points, on two goals and one assist. Senior captain Alice Lee was impressive in goal, as she stopped 20 shots for the Blue Devils.
The first half was an even affair, with neither team scoring more than two consecutive goals. The Lady Jaspers' Gutenberger, got Manhattan started, scoring two unassisted goals to open the game. Smead scored her first goal of the game to cut the lead to one, but Gutenberger found the net again to put the Jaspers up 3-1.
CCSU sophomore Jessica Roberts scored on a free position shot with 12:26 remaining in the half to bring the Blue Devils within one again. CCSU tied the game at three when Conway scored her first goal on an assist from Smead. Manhattan finished the scoring in the opening frame with goals from Hickey and Gutenberger to grab a 5-3 lead.
Out of the locker rooms it was Central Connecticut that struck first. Junior Courtney Mooney scored off an assist from Conway just 1:25 into the second period. After a goal from Manhattan's VanOverbeke, Smead finished on her second goal of the night to bring the Blue Devil deficit to 6-5. But, with under 12 minutes remaining in the game,
Manhattan got two goals each from VanOverbeke and Hickey to take a 10-5 lead. With 3:26 left the Jaspers had the margin they needed to hold off a late goal by CCSU and win the contest 10-6.
The Lady Jaspers dominated the offensive output as they outshot CCSU 40 to 24. The Blue Devils made up for it in the draw controls department, recording 14 to Manhattan's four.
The Lady Jaspers next take on Siena Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Gaelic Park to solidify a hold on a MAAC playoff spot. Prior to the game, the squad will honor seniors Julie Wilson and Heidi Sheffer on Senior Night.
