NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men’s soccer team battled back from a goal down to defeat Manhattan 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Niagara Field. Niagara has now won three of its last four games and improves to 5-8-2 (3-3-1 MAAC), while Manhattan falls to 2-13-2 (0-6-1 MAAC).

"We missed a lot of easy chances in the first half," head coach Dermot McGrane said. "I was worried that it would come back and haunt us later in the game, which proved to be the case when Manhattan scored early in the second half. I was pleased with the way the boys kept playing, didn’t panic, and found a way to get the result."

Niagara had numerous quality scoring chances in the first half, but was unable to finish any of its opportunities. The Purple Eagles nearly went ahead in the 14th minute when junior Stephen Kauble (Canal Winchester, Ohio) sent a cross into the box for junior Matthew Durand (Melbourne, Australia). Durand took the ball off his chest and volleyed a shot just wide of the goal. Durand had another chance in the 30th minute after freshman Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) found him with the ball, but Durand’s shot was too high.

Niagara almost put one in during the final seconds of the first half when junior Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y.) got on the end of an Anthony DiBiase (Richmond Hill, Ont.) corner kick, but Brodfuehrer’s diving header scooted inches wide of the far post.

In the second half, Manhattan capitalized on a corner kick of its own to take a 1-0 lead at 50:11. The Jaspers’ Dan Cipriano headed down Kiley Adam’s corner kick and the ball bounced past senior goalkeeper Jason Whitehead (Middletown, N.Y.). Whitehead, making his fifth-straight start, recorded seven saves on the day.

The Purple Eagles came close to tying the game in the 58th minute when Tesch sent a nice through ball for Kauble. Kauble got behind the Jaspers’ defense, but was unable to get around Manhattan’s John Ciano, who had come out to challenge. Ciano blocked Kauble’s attempt, and DiBiase’s follow on the rebound sailed over the cross bar.

Niagara finally tied the game at 1-1 in the 79th minute when it was awarded a free kick 35 yards from Manhattan’s goal. DiBiase sent in a floater that Durand was able to flick to the back post where junior Zach Scholla (Angelica, N.Y.) redirected the ball for his first career goal.

NU kept up the offensive pressure and was rewarded in the 86th minute. Junior Miles Patterson (Lansdale, Pa.) made a terrific run down the left flank, got around his defender and slid a ball toward the penalty spot, where junior Joe Skinner (Baldwinsville, N.Y) was waiting. Skinner received the ball, took a few touches to turn and face the goal and placed his shot into the lower right corner for the game-winning goal. The goal was Skinner’s second of the season, giving him a career-high five points in 2007.

Today’s game will be broadcast on a tape delay basis by LCTV and air later Sunday night at 7 p.m. on cable channel 20.

Niagara wraps up the regular season when it travels to Rider on Friday, Nov. 2, before facing MAAC-leader Loyola Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.