NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The turmoil continues for the Niagara University men’s soccer team, as it lost 1-0 to Pittsburgh at Niagara Field Wednesday.
On a cold and windy afternoon, the Purple Eagles fell behind late in the first half and failed to find the net for the fourth consecutive game.
"It seems like the same with each and every game," head coach Dermot McGrane said. "We have to get more clinical around the net."
The chances were there for Niagara (0-6-1) from the beginning of the contest. Midway into the first half, a shot by freshman midfielder Scott Devlin (Sarnia, Ont.) beat Pittsburgh goalkeeper Justin Lowery but glanced off of the crossbar and a follow-up header by senior forward Ricky Fleck (Youngstown, N.Y.) was also parried away by the Panther defense and Lowery.
The tide turned in the game when Panther forward Keeyon Young hit a heavy shot that beat junior goalkeeper Dan O’Shea (East Syracuse, N.Y.) but glanced off the crossbar in the 42nd minute. Just three minutes later in the 45th minute, Young followed his effort and scored the only goal of the contest when he beat O’Shea to a ball behind the Niagara defense and shot into an open net. This was Young’s team-leading third goal of the season.
Niagara continued its efforts in the second half, playing many balls into the Panther’s penalty box and hitting four shots, but fell short in the end. Pittsburgh (3-7-0) out shot Niagara, 15-12, in the contest, with Devlin leading the way for the Purple Eagles with three shots.
Lowery preserved his third shutout of the season, making six saves in the victory. O’Shea, who kept Niagara in the game with a defensive slide tackle late in the second half when pressed with a one-on-one opportunity, made seven saves in the loss.
Niagara will be heavily tested in its next match when traveling to Oneonta, N.Y. to face nationally-ranked Hartwick (No. 10, National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Saturday. In seven games, Hartwick has outscored its opponents 16-4, compiling a record of 7-1-0. Game time is set for noon at Elmore Field.
