Jaspers Fall in Season Opener to Central Connecticut State
The Manhattan Jaspers opened their 2026 campaign on Tuesday night, dropping a 3-2 decision to Central Connecticut State University in a tightly contested match at Lubetkin Field.
Sophomore midfielder Pau Mascarell set up the first goal, threading a pass to junior forward Tycho van Haaren, who opened the scoring for the Jaspers. Freshman goalkeeper Gaspar Homar Bennasar kept the team in the game with eight saves on his collegiate debut.
Senior striker Ziv Dahan added his first goal since October 2024, extending the lead before the break, but the Blue Devils responded after a miscue by Giovanni Rivera that led to a penalty kick. CCSU struck twice within seven minutes in the second half to flip the scoreboard.
Despite outshot the opposition in corners and fouls, the Jaspers were outshot overall, managing only ten shots on goal in the second half. The team will look to regroup as they prepare for their next test against the NJIT Highlanders on August 27, a game that will be streamed on AmericaEast.TV.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming matchup against NJIT promises a fresh chance for the Jaspers to fine‑tune their tactics and build on the performances of Mascarell, van Haaren and Dahan. Coach hopes the experience gained from the opening loss will translate into a stronger second half of the season.