INWOOD, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Men’s Soccer team faced off against the Columbia Lions on Monday night, ending with a score of 2-0 in favor of Columbia at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
The game started with Columbia making an impact early, scoring just 11 minutes into the match. The Jaspers had a chance with a corner kick shortly after, but it didn’t lead to any goals. Throughout the first half, goalkeeper Ludvig Malberg was busy, making several saves against the Lions’ aggressive offense.
Around the 25th minute, the Jaspers began to find their rhythm, with Henry Hamilton taking their first shot. Then, Coach Tom Giovatto made some substitutions, bringing in three new players, including James Lucas. Within a minute of joining the game, Lucas attempted a shot that led to a corner kick, showing promise for the Jaspers.
Midway through the second half, William Fagerberg tried to spark the Jaspers’ offense but was shut down by Columbia.
Stats Worth Noting:
- Ludvig Malberg recorded a career-high nine saves, fending off 23 shots from the Lions.
- James Lucas was the team leader in shots with three, including one on target.
- William Fagerberg logged two shots, with one on target.
- Henry Hamilton recorded one shot on goal, playing the entire 90 minutes.
- Giovanni Rivera added another shot coming off the bench.
The Jaspers will play again on Saturday, September 20, against Siena University to kick off conference play at Gaelic Park. Fans can watch the game via ESPN+.
In recent trends, teams across college soccer have had to adapt quickly post-COVID, with many schools seeing fluctuating player numbers and performance levels. It’s part of the bigger picture of college sports adapting to change, showing how quickly things can shift in athletics in today’s world.
For further insights on college soccer dynamics, you can visit NCAA Soccer.
