Senior defender Mike Burger and the Niagara Men's Soccer team defeated Manhattan, 2-0, in the final home game of the 2003 season. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s soccer team (3-10-2, 3-3-1) defeated Manhattan College (3-10-2, 2-3-2), 2-0, Sunday in the Purple Eagles’ final game at Niagara Field in the 2003 season.
Four Niagara players celebrated their farewell game by jumping out to a 2-0 first-half lead over the Jaspers. Seniors Jeff Boyle (East Amherst, N.Y.), Michael Burger (Logansport, Ind.) and Ricky Fleck (Youngstown, N.Y.), along with graduate student Ewan Henderson’s (Lincoln, England) inspired play in their final home contest – hustling to every loose ball, tackling with authority and recovering on defense – aided Niagara in its victory over Manhattan. With the win, the Purple Eagles evened their MAAC record at 3-3-1, and sit in a three-team tie for fifth place in the conference through Sunday’s games (Niagara is tied with Saint Peter’s and Canisius with 10 points each in conference play).
"I thought we played well in the first half, with weather conditions effecting play in the second. But I thought we played well through the conditions," Niagara head coach Dermot McGrane said.
In less than perfect conditions, a muddy field mixed with a constant downpour of rain, the Purple Eagles began Sunday’s contest with a different attitude, looking like a team on a mission to secure a win in their final home game. Immediately following the opening kickoff, the Purple Eagles swarmed the Jasper defense, firing eight shots in the opening half compared to one by Manhattan.
In the 22nd minute, a 30-yard free-kick by sophomore defender Mark Spooner (Derby, England) beat Manhattan goalkeeper Collin Leaver to give the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead, giving Spooner his thrid goal of the season.
With continuous pressure on the Manhattan defense in the offensive third of the field, the Purple Eagles netted their second goal of the contest just six minutes after Spooner’s goal. A low, driving shot by Fleck was saved by Leaver, who was fully extended on the stop and unable to recover after diving to his right, and junior midfielder Simon Adair (Oakville, Ont.) followed-up Fleck’s shot to give Niagara a 2-0 lead, a deficit the Jaspers come back from. The goal was Adair’s third of the season, tying him with Burger for the team lead in goals.
Niagara outshot Manhattan in the game, 17-5, with the departing Henderson leading the Purple Eagles with five shots at the Jaspers’ net.
Niagara junior goalkeeper Dan O’Shea (East Syracuse, N.Y.) made four saves in the contest to pick up his third shutout of the season and second in the last four games. Leaver made five saves for Manhattan.
The Purple Eagles visit Rider University (0-13-2, 0-5-2) Friday to begin their final two games of the regular season. Niagara then travels to Loyola College (7-6-3, 4-2-1) Saturday for the final game of th
