CLEVELAND, Ohio – Senior Matt Stedman (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) scored three times, including the game-winning goal, to help the Niagara University men’s soccer team (1-3-0) defeat Cleveland State (4-4-1) Wednesday evening at Krenzler Field. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Purple Eagles.

"I’m really proud of the way the guys played the ball at their feet in the first half," Niagara head coach Dermot McGrane said. "In the second half, they showed grit and determination to hang on for the win."

Stedman gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead in the four-minute mark when he scored on a breakaway off an assist from Zak Scholla (Angelica, N.Y). His second goal came in the 11-minute mark when Cleveland State keeper Dan Duric was pulled out of the net and Stedman scored from 10 yards out.

The Vikings cut the lead to 2-1 when David Stewart scored on a free kick when the ball went off Purple Eagle keeper senior James McKenna (Pittsford, N.Y.).

Stedman struck again in the first when he scored on a rebound off sophomore Stephen Kauble’s (Canal Winchester, Ohio) shot in the 26th minute.

Niagara made it 4-1 when sophomore Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) notched his first goal of the season when freshman Michael Malone (Rochester, N.Y.) had the corner kick, Kauble headed the ball and Brodfuehrer headed it again for the goal.

Cleveland State scored twice in the second half to make the game close. Nenad Stojkovic made it 4-2, scoring from five yards out in the 51st minute and then George Kephart had the final goal of the game, a five-yard tally.

McKenna made five saves on 12 shots while Duric and Kasey Gray combined for five saves on 12 shots.