2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #58 Manhattan Jaspers

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series this week with Mercer, Wagner, and Bellarmine.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#58 Manhattan Jaspers

Conference: MAAC
2018 Record: 4-10 (0-6 in MAAC play)
Head coach: Drew Kelleher (3rd Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Parker Giarratana (23)
Assists: Parker Giarratana (23)
Points: Parker Giarratana (46)
Faceoffs: Joseph Bressingham (99-of-200; 49.5%)
Ground balls: Joseph Bressingham (57)
Caused turnovers: Rob Johnson (12)
Goals against average: Michael Zingaro (11.65 GAA)
Save percentage: Michael Zingaro (51.5%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: G Michael Zingaro (11.65 GAA, 51.5% SV%), D Frank Merrill (24 GBs, 7 CTs, 1 G, 1 A), A Andrew Gresham (2 Gs, 1 A)
Senior scoring departing: 6 of 196 points (3.1%)
Senior starts lost: 17 of 140 (12.1%)

Season Summary

Similar to their past few seasons, the Jaspers didn’t have a good season. They had more than 10 losses for the sixth straight season, However, they’ve made small but steady improvements under head coach Drew Kelleher. After winning three games in each of his first two seasons, Manhattan won four games in 2018.

The Jaspers went on a three-game winning streak after losing their first two games with victories over VMI, Lafayette, and Bellarmine. Their next game was expected to be a big loss to Virginia. However, in what almost was the most unpredictable upset in recent college lacrosse history, Manhattan was in a war with the Cavaliers, being tied at four midway through the third quarter. They even led by two goals early in the game. Michael Zingaro played a huge role in that game, making 18 stops in the loss.

After that game, the Jaspers lost to UMass Lowell and Monmouth by four goals or fewer before being blown out by Marist. After their final win over NJIT, Manhattan lost their final four games, thus failing to win a conference game for the second straight season.

Junior Parker Giarratana was Manhattan’s best player on offense once again, leading the team with 46 points. Sophomore Luke Hanson finished second with 38 points. Five other players, including sophomore attackmen Brandon Grinnell and Trevor Pelletier, had at least 10 points.

The defense was young in 2018, with junior Dylan DeMuro, sophomore Rob Johnson, and freshman Luke Pacher played key roles for the Jaspers in front of Zingaro. Juniors Joseph Bressingham and Robert Carroll took most of the faceoffs, with Bressingham taking more draws and finishing with a higher win percentage.

Looking Ahead

Only six seniors depart the program. All of them but Zingaro started less than half the games in the season, which says a lot about the talent that’s returning. That should mean another year of improved results.

The Jaspers do lose freshman defender Jack Kornutik to Fairfield for next season. He played in 11 games, starting one, and recorded only two ground balls. That shouldn’t be that big of a loss for Manhattan.

If Giarratana can continue to grow as a player and a leader, look for the Jaspers’ attack unit to be a sneaky good unit in the MAAC. They could carry Manhattan into the MAAC Tournament hunt, something that hasn’t been said in a long time.

Here’s who the Jaspers will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.