Manhattan's men's soccer looking for rebound season

Last season the Manhattan men’s soccer team could never quite get on-track as the Jaspers stumbled through a forgettable 2-12-3 season, with a 2-6-2 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

This season, however, Head Coach Jorden Scott returns 12 seasoned veterans from last year’s outfit along with some optimism for a turnaround season. Senior Joe Hulme, who tied for the team lead with two goals and an assist last season, will lead the Jaspers as well as junior Ryan Shields, who was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team a year ago. 

Hulme and Shields, who both hail from England, will be joined by yet another Brit in senior Luke Greaves, who is currently enjoying a strong summer season playing for the Seacoast United Phantoms of the prestigious Premier Development League.

The Jaspers soccer program, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, opens their season Aug. 25 when they host Navy at 7 p.m. Manhattan travels to Fordham for the annual Battle of the Bronx contest Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., and will host their initial MAAC home game versus Marist on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. 

Manhattan will host an alumni game at 11 a.m., prior to the matchup with Marist. 

Other Jaspers home games include Sacred Heart on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m., Virginia Military Institute on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m., St. Francis Brooklyn on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m., Monmouth on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., Quinnipiac on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m., Fairfield on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., and Niagara on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. 

All home games are played at Gaelic Park.

The MAAC tournament will start with the quarterfinals Nov. 5, with the semifinals slated for Nov. 9 and the championship match scheduled for Nov. 12.

Manhattan soccer seeks tourney return

Two seasons ago, Manhattan women’s soccer head coach Brendan Lawler led the Jaspers to the MAAC tournament championship game for the first time in school history. 

After falling short of reaching the tournament last season with a 6-10-1 overall record and a 4-5-1 mark in the MAAC, Lawler’s team boasts 21 returning players, led by senior Erica Modena and sophomore Arianna Montefusco.

Modena was an All-MAAC Second Team pick who led the Jaspers with four goals last season, while Montefusco made a splash in her freshman season last year with two goals and an assist.

The Jaspers open their season Aug. 18 when they host New Jersey Institute of Technology at 7 p.m., before hosting Fordham in the Battle of the Bronx on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., at Gaelic Park. 

Other home games include a matchup with Indiana University-Perdue University Indianapolis on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m., and Virginia Military Institute on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. That’s before MAAC conference home games versus Siena on Sept. 23 at noon, Iona on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., St. Peter’s on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., Canisius on Oct. 11 at 3 p.m., and Rider on Oct. 21 at 1 p.m.

The MAAC tournament will be held at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, beginning with the first round on Oct. 28 and the quarterfinals on Oct. 29. After a day off, the semifinals will be held Oct. 31, with the championship game set for Nov. 1.

Movin’ on up

Lehman College announced Ramon Jimenez was promoted to assistant coach of the Lightning’s men’s volleyball team. Jimenez spent last season as a volunteer assistant to head coach Sovanny Ebbesen.

Jimenez is no stranger to the Lehman volleyball program. During his four seasons at the school, Jimenez posted more than 400 kills and 100 blocks, and was named the team’s most valuable player in 2016. 

Last season, the men’s volleyball team posted a 15-11 record and advanced to the City University of New York Athletic Conference tournament semifinals in Ebbesen’s first season at the helm.