PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team (2-0) held Manhattan scoreless for a 34:15 span leading to a 7-3 victory over the Jaspers today at the Rutgers Turf Field. With the win, Rutgers improves to 2-0 on the season, while Manhattan falls to 1-2. The three goals allowed by RU were the fewest since defeating Albany 19-2 on April 7, 2001.

Manhattan tied the game at 2-2 with 14:28 left in the second quarter, but the Jaspers wouldn’t score again until the 10:13 mark of the fourth quarter, a span of 34:15. During the Jaspers’ scoring drought, Rutgers added five goals to take a 7-2 lead before Greg Bartolotta scored for Manhattan. The Scarlet Knights pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Jaspers 3-0 while winning all four face-offs and out-shooting Manhattan 8-4 in the quarter.

Both teams got off to sluggish starts, combining for just five goals in the first half, with only one goal being scored over the first 15:41 of the game. Rutgers got on the board first when sophomore John Flanagan (Smithtown, NY) scored an unassisted goal at the 9:15 mark of the first quarter. Rutgers went ahead 2-0 when junior Delby Powless (Hagersville, Ontario) found the back of the net with 4:19 left in the quarter. Manhattan answered 1:09 later when Brady Becklo scored. Justin Otto then scored to tie the game at 2-2, but the Scarlet Knights answered by pitching a shutout for over two quarters to earn the victory.

Powless and sophomore Leif Blomquist (Long Beach, NY) led RU with two goals apiece, while junior Matt Apel (Bridgewater, NJ) had a goal and an assist. Apel now leads the team with seven points (2 G, 5 A), while Powless (6 G, 0A) and Blomquist (2 G, 4 A) are next with six points apiece.

Freshman goalie Greg Havalchak (Corning, NY) had his second consecutive stellar game, stopping 11 shots. He now has 31 saves over his first two collegiate games and has allowed just 12 goals, for a 6.00 goals against average.

Rutgers will return to action at home against Delaware at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Delaware, but was moved to Piscataway due to poor field conditions.

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