NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – There seems to be something special about getting a new season underway for junior Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.). The Niagara University women’s soccer forward scored two goals Friday to help the Purple Eagles (1-0-0) defeat visiting Buffalo (0-1-0), 3-1. It was the third-straight season that Bisnott posted two tallies in the first match of the year. The victory also stretched Niagara’s winning streak in both season openers and home openers to five.
Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) made one save to earn the win in her first collegiate match. Senior Emily Montgomery (Oshawa, Ont.) picked up a goal in the first half, and freshman Stephanie Gartley (Sarnia, Ont.) picked up two assists on the day. Niagara outshot Buffalo 22-15, but had 13 shots compared to the Bulls’ four in the final half.
"It was a great way to start," head coach Peter Veltri said. "When you have a freshman in net, it’s a great way to get a game under her belt and get some confidence going. We are pleased with the way it went. And it was night and day from the first half to the second half. I told them at halftime to relax and we will find our way. The first half we were a little sluggish but we just needed some time to get going."
Niagara got its offense rolling by earning a quick 6-1 lead in the shot department in the first half, but needed some defensive help as well. In the ninth minute, Buffalo’s Jenessa Banwell fired a shot on net from the left side. Stephens was beaten on the play, but junior Natalie Frost (Elmira, N.Y.) was right there on the goal line to kick it aside. The save set up the Purple Eagles’ first goal of the season in the 13th minute. After receiving a pass from Gartley in the 13th miunute, Montgomery fired a shot towards the net that was deflected off a Bull defender and past keeper Amy Coron for the the goal.
Buffalo still tried to find ways to score after falling behind, 1-0. Sophomore Chiara Greco (Hamilton, Ont.) recorded Niagara’s second team save of the game by blocking another shot by Banwell on the goal line in the 23rd minute. Stephens then positioning herself in a prime spot for a save off a corner kick just over a minute later. But the Bulls finally broke through in the 37th minute when Andrea Vescio ripped a shot from 30 yards out over Stephens’ outstretched gloves.
When the second half began, Niagara came out firing and it was not long until Bisnott took control of the match. In the 56th minute, she took a pass from Gartley and one-timed it into the top right corner to give the Purple Eagles the lead.
"Everyone is still getting used to each other after playing for separate teams during the summer," Bisnott said. "But all of us were ready for this season to start and were dying to get back. We added some good freshmen and no one is scared of anything out there."
Bisnott added some insurance in the 75th minute. Frost delivered a perfect ball from just inside the midfield line that Bisnott handled cleanly and placed into the top left corner. The goal paved the way for Stephens to earn the victory.
"It feels fabulous (to get that win)," Stephens remarked. "Giving up that goal wasn’t the end of the world. I knew that my team was behind me, and I felt a lot more comfortable in the second half. When I went out in the second I was definitely ready to play."
Niagara concludes the weekend with a road match at Colgate Sunday at 1 p.m.
1 2 F
Buffalo 1 0 1
Niagara 1 2 3
Records: Buffalo (0-1-0), Niagara (1-0-0)
