April 27, 2005

Final Stats

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The Providence College men's lacrosse team defeated Manhattan, 10-9, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Wednesday, April 27 in Staten Island, N.Y. With the victory, the Friars improve to 7-7 overall (6-1 MAAC) and clinch a spot in the 2005 MAAC Men's Lacrosse Championship for the fifth-consecutive season. The Jaspers, who were previously unbeaten in the MAAC, fall to 7-5 overall (6-1 MAAC).

Senior Dan Giuntini (Floral Park, N.Y.) led Providence with five points on two goals and three assists. His second goal of the game proved to be the game winner with eight-seconds remaining in regulation.

Providence reeled off four-straight goals to start the game to take a 4-0 lead. Freshman Bennett Murphy (Princeton, N.J.) led off the scoring 56-seconds into the first quarter off an assist from Giuntini. Giuntini followed with his first goal of the afternoon at the 10:30 mark off a feed from senior Jonathan Hollister (Longmeadow, Mass.). Sophomore Brendan Ryan (Chatham, N.J.) put the Friars up, 3-0, with a tally at 5:51. Junior Tom Kelly (Henniker, N.H.) was credited with the assist. Hollister scored the Friars' fourth goal in the span 48-seconds later (5:03), unassisted.

Manhattan answered with three-straight goals to close out the first quarter and make the score, 4-3. At the 3:42 mark, Christian Schaefers got things going for the Jaspers off a feed from Eugene Tanner. Tanner followed with two goals of his own, back-to-back, at 2:27 and with 11-seconds left. His first goal was during a man-up situation and was assisted by Brian Murray. Tanner's goal with 11-seconds left was unassisted.

In the second quarter, Sean Kirwan (Drexel Hill, Pa.) gave the Friars a two-goal cushion (5-3) at the 14:18 mark with an assist from Giuntini. The Jaspers rallied to tie the score, 5-5, at halftime with goals from Chris Oppito (3:38) and Greg Lewis (2:08). Oppito's goal was assisted by Tanner.

Providence outscored Manhattan, 3-1, in the third quarter. Kirwan netted his second goal of the afternoon in a man-up situation off a feed from Ryan at 5:55. Kirwan's goal put PC ahead, 6-5. Manhattan tied the game, 6-6, with 4:27 left in the third quarter as Otto connected off a pass from Oppito. The Friars regained a two-goal lead on back-to-back unassisted goals from freshman R.J. Lamontagne (Pittsford, N.Y.) and sophomore Mark Dillon (Gaithersburg, Md.). Lamontagne's goal came at the 3:45 mark, while Dillon was able to connect with six-seconds left on the clock, to make the score 8-6.

The Jaspers scored the first three goals in the fourth quarter to take a 9-8 lead with 3:18 left in regulation. Jeremy Marrano scored the first two Manhattan goals in the span, assisted by Rob Sitar and Otto. The first was a man-up tally 49-seconds into the quarter and the second was scored with 11:00 minutes remaining. Otto netted the Jasper's go-ahead goal with 3:18 left, unassisted.

Providence junior Mark Seyer (Kirkwood, Mo.) evened the score, 9-9, with 2:07 left to play during a man-up situation off a Giuntini assist. Giuntini scored the game winner with eight-seconds left, unassisted.

Providence outshot Manhattan, 28-27, while the Jaspers held a 22-15 advantage in groundballs. The Friars dominated the face-off "X", winning 18-of-23 opportunities. Senior Mark Rotella (Smithtown, N.Y.) won 17-of-22 face-offs to lead PC.

Senior Andrew McMinn (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made eight saves for Providence between the pipes. Justin Henry collected 12 saves for the Jaspers in goal.

Providence (7-7, 6-1 MAAC) will conclude the regular-season schedule with a MAAC game against Canisius on Saturday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m.