NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s soccer team (2-6-0) won its second consecutive game, defeating Oneonta State (4-5-0), 2-0, Sunday at Niagara Field behind two goals in the second half.

Taking 24 shots in the contest, 17 of which came in the second half, the Purple Eagles capitalized on two counterattacks to capture their second win of the season.

In the 62nd minute, sophomore forward Matt Stedman (Lockport) scored his second goal in as many games. After junior Mark Spooner (Mickleover, England) laid the ball back to Stedman on the left edge of the Red Dragons’ penalty area, Stedman placed the ball over the left shoulder of Oneonta goalkeeper Tim Melia and into the right side of the net, scoring his second goal of the season.

For Stedman, leading the team with seven points this season, Niagara’s recent success in the past two games is due to the team’s change of attitude.

"We’re picking it up and starting to come together as a team," Stedman said. "Our style of play changed and, all around, our team is playing better."

Stedman would play a part in the Purple Eagles’ second goal, playing the ball to a streaking Simon Adair (Oakville, Ont.) in the Oneonta box. Adair controlled the pass and struck the ball into the upper-left corner of the net in the 89th minute, extending the Niagara lead to two goals.

Although capitalizing on two scoring chances, the Purple Eagles missed several opportunities in the second half that may have put the game away, a part of the game that needs improvement, according to Niagara head coach Dermot McGrane.

"We continue to improve with every game," McGrane said. "But our finishing still needs to get better, as we missed many chances late to kill off the game."

Those missed chances include a missed free kick attempt by Spooner in the 61st minute, which had beat Melia in the Red Dragons net, but cracked off the left post. In addition, sophomores Scott Devlin (Sarnia, Ont.) and Kwame Oduro (Toronto) both missed one-on-one opportunities late in the second half following Stedman’s goal.

Getting his first shutout as a Purple Eagle, junior goalkeeper Eric Sullivan (Traverse City, Mich.) made seven saves to earn his second win of the season. Melia made seven saves for the Red Dragons in the loss.

Shots were in favor of Niagara, 24-21.

The Purple Eagles return to action Wednesday, traveling to Cleveland State University for a non-conference game at 7 p.m.