Manhattan University Drops MAAC opener, stumble against Columbia

The Manhattan University men’s and women’s soccer programs have had challenging starts to their seasons in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, with both teams still searching for consistency as September winds down.

For the men’s team, the past week extended what has already been a difficult stretch. The Jaspers dropped a 2-0 decision to the Columbia University Lions on Sept. 15 and later suffered a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Siena University Saints on Sept. 20. Those results left Manhattan with a 1-5-1 record heading into the final days of the month.

Against Columbia, senior goalkeeper Ludvig Malberg set a career high with nine saves, keeping the Lions from turning the contest into a rout. Manhattan produced a handful of scoring opportunities but could not find the back of the net, a recurring theme for a team that has struggled to convert chances in close games.
The matchup with Siena provided a more competitive script. After falling behind 1-0 in the opening 40 minutes, the Jaspers rallied before halftime. Henry Hamilton leveled the score in the 44th minute with his first goal of the season, and shortly after the break, Henry Reinhart tallied his first goal of 2025 off an assist from Hamilton.

For a stretch, it appeared Manhattan might grab momentum and secure a much-needed home victory. Instead, discipline became the turning point. Defender Paul Abbatiello was issued a red card in the 79th minute, leaving the Jaspers short-handed just as Siena pressed for an equalizer. Playing a man down, Manhattan could not withstand the pressure. The Saints broke through with goals in the 80th and 87th minutes from Mario Navarro Perez, swinging the result in their
favor and spoiling Alumni Day in Riverdale.

The defeat underscored Manhattan’s challenge in closing out matches. The Jaspers have shown flashes of promise but have struggled to hold late leads and manage adversity against conference opponents. With more than a week before their next contest, the team has time to regroup before returning to action against Rider University on Oct. 1.

Meanwhile, the women’s team was idle last week, giving them additional rest and preparation time. They return to the field on Sept. 24 with a road matchup against Iona University in New Rochelle, New York. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.