Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Manhattan in 2016 Opener

Friday, February 12

West Point, N.Y.

3 PM

Army West Point

0-1

Manhattan

1-0

Manhattan

Army West Point

Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Manhattan in 2016 Opener

February 12, 2016 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y – The Army West Point women's lacrosse team was handed a 14-9 setback by Manhattan in its first-ever game at the varsity level on Friday afternoon at Michie Stadium.

Army begins the year 0-1, while Manhattan starts 1-0.

Sophomore Amy Johnston led the Black Knights with four goals and five draw controls, while freshman Nikki Polhamus contributed a pair of goals. Sophomore Rachel Hornick and freshmen Manuela Cortes and Rachel Treweeke each found the back of the net once.

Freshman Kayla Rowley totaled seven saves, including five in the second half for the hosts.

Megan Yarusso tallied four goals for Manhattan, and Stefanie Ranagan added a hat trick and a game-high eight draw controls. Sarah Lang and Claire Roediger each added two markers and Nikki Prestiano made seven stops in net.

"I think it's good that we got our first game under our belt and we're looking to improve from here," said Noto Family Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Kristen Waagbo. "One of the big takeaways is that we really fought hard in the second half and we were able to make some adjustments. We have to start somewhere and this is a great learning experience. We're going to learn from every game and we're going to learn a lot about ourselves throughout the season. I'm really proud of our team for stepping out there and representing Army women's lacrosse for the first time."

Manhattan got on the board first with three goals that came during a span of 1:21 in the game's first 3:59. The Black Knights responded with back-to-back goals from Hornick and Johnston to make the score 3-2 with 22:21 remaining in the first half.

Cortes picked up an assist on Army's second goal, after passing a would-be free-position attempt to Johnston, who scored on the left side of the net.

Four different players scored during a 5-0 run for the Jaspers that lasted the next 12:02. Included among Manhattan's goal scorers in the stretch was Roediger, who contributed tallies at the 16:38 and 5:54 marks to help build the visitors' advantage to 8-2.

Johnston scored on an assist from Hornick with 1:57 to play in the first half, as Army entered the locker room down, 8-3.

Polhamus found the back of the net 1:00 into the second frame to bring the Black Knights back to within four goals before Manhattan netted six of the game's next eight goals to increase its lead to eight, 14-6, with 6:30 left in the game.

Army finished the contest with three unanswered goals in the final 5:43, including tallies by Johnston, Treweeke and Cortes. Treweeke netted her first goal with 19 seconds on the clock before Cortes converted a free-position shot with just a second remaining.

Army continues its three-game homestand to open the season on Saturday, Feb. 20, when the Black Knights host Central Connecticut State at 11 a.m. at Michie Stadium.

GAME NOTES: Friday marked Army's inaugural game at the varsity level after previously competing as a club team … Johnston netted a game-high tying four goals … Hornick scored the first goal for Army at the NCAA Division I level with 25:48 remaining in the first half … team captains Erin Jollota, Shelby Lindsay and Leah Wasserman were joined by Waagbo, assistant coaches Bria Irizarry and Danielle Etrasco, Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan and Associate Athletic Director Stephanie Menio during a commemorative ball presentation prior to the opening draw.