FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sal Miccio tallied seven points to match his career-high, leading the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team to a 14-12 victory over Manhattan College on Saturday afternoon for the Pioneers second straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) win of the season at home on Campus Field. Miccio and Morgan O'Reilly had four goals apiece as SHU recorded eight different goal-scorers to contribute to the victory.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 4-4, 2-0 MAAC
Manhattan: 1-6, 0-2 MAAC

Top Performers:
Sal Miccio: 4 goals, 3 assists
Morgan O'Reilly: 4 goals
Jake Ward: 1 goal, 3 assists
Alex Pazienza: 14 saves

Of Note:
Sacred Heart came out strong, scoring the first three goals of the game, including a pair from Miccio, along with one from the MAAC Rookie of the Week this week, James Moran, to give SHU a quick 3-0 lead through the opening five minutes of play. After Manhattan got on the board, Michael Moreschi added one for the Pios to maintain the three-goal edge. The Jaspers scored two back-to-back goals to pull within one, but O'Reilly found the back of the net to give Sacred Heart a 5-3 lead at the end of the opening frame.

Manhattan scored three straight goals in the second quarter to come from behind and take their first lead of the day, 6-5. However, the Pioneers answered with back-to-back goals from Carson Spooner and O'Reilly to regain the lead, 7-6 with 1:38 left until the half. The visitors were able to tie it up with 26 seconds left on the clock to send the game into halftime tied at 7-7.

The Jaspers kept their momentum going through the third as they were able to jump ahead by three and outscore the Pios 5-3. Tucker Spencer and O'Reilly scored two consecutive goals to pull Sacred Heart within one, but Manhattan scored with less than a minute left in the third to hold a 12-10 lead heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

The Pioneers had a shutdown defensive effort in the fourth, not allowing a single goal for Manhattan in the final 15 minutes of play. Miccio (2), O'Reilly, and Jake Ward all scored in the fourth to come from behind and take the 14-12 final for SHU's second straight MAAC win at home.

Luke Romanek and MP Thomas split the face-off duties as Romanek went 8-for-19 and Thomas went 8-for-11. Thomas picked up a team-high six ground balls.

Sacred Heart outshot Manhattan 47-38, and the Pios won 16 face-offs to the Jaspers 14.

Up Next:
Sacred Heart will hit the road to take on Virginia Military Insitute next Saturday, March 23, at noon to continue conference play.