Piscataway, NJ (March 10, 2005)- Despite two goals and an assist from senior
Eugene Tanner, Manhattan dropped an 11-4 decision to Rutgers this afternoon at the Rutgers Stadium Complex. The Jaspers got within 4-2 late in the second quarter on an even-strength goal from sophmore
Chris Oppito, but the twelfth-ranked Scarlet Knights scored five unanswered goals to pull away.
Leif Blomquist scored the first of his four goals on the day to get Rutgers (2-0) on the board first with 13:27 remaining in the first quarter. Blomquist then added his second goal with just one second left in the quarter to give the Scarlet Knights a 3-0 edge after 15 minutes of play. But the Jaspers (1-2) would respond, getting on the board two minutes into the second quarter on an unassisted tally by Tanner. Oppito's goal then cut the deficit to 4-2 with 1:16 remaining in the half, but Chris Doctor posted a man-up goal 18 seconds later to give Rutgers a 5-2 lead at halftime.
Rutgers led 9-2 to start the fourth quarter before sophomore
Jeremy Marrano found the back of the net on a feed from Tanner with 13:48 left in regulation. With 1:21 remaining in the game, Tanner's second goal made the score 11-4, and proved to be the final tally on the afternoon.
Senior
Robert Busweiler made 12 saves in his first appearance in net this season, including six first-quarter saves to keep the Jaspers within striking distance.
Manhattan will return to action on Sunday, March 13, when it will take on Sacred Heart in Delray Beach, FL. The game is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m.
