STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Niagara men’s soccer team was unable to extend its winning ways, dropping a 2-1 match to Stony Brook Friday afternoon. Niagara drops to 1-3-0 on the season, while Stony Brook improves to 4-2-0.

"We need to stop making so many mental errors if we want to give ourselves a chance to win," head coach Dermot McGrane said.

Niagara fell behind early when Stony Brook’s Michael Palacio scored in the ninth minute beating sophomore goalkeeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.).

The Purple Eagles battled back to tie the game at 1-1 just before half time. Junior Matthew Durand (Melbourne, Australia) notched his first goal of the year at the 42:43 mark off an assist from junior Billy Gustafson (Rochester, N.Y.). Durand received the ball off Gustafson’s throw-in and his shot beat Stony Brook keeper Dawid Ditrich to even the game at one goal apiece.

Gustafson, making his first start of the year, also recorded an assist in Friday’s win over St. Francis, his first game action of 2007 after missing NU’s first two matches because of injury.

The Purple Eagles kept the score close despite being outshot 25-5 on the day, including a 16-1 edge in the second half. Durand led Niagara with three shots, while freshmen Jordan DeRoy (Barrie, Ont.) and Levi Tesch (Woolcott, N.Y.) had a shot apiece.

The Sea Wolves game-winning goal came in the 69th minute as Mihailo Pavlisin capitalized on a Purple Eagle turnover.

Fiutowski made a career-high 13 saves on the day, including 10 in the second half. Fiutowski also thwarted a number of 1-on-1 chances by the Stony Brook strikers to keep the game within reach.

"Once again, John Fiutowski was outstanding in goal for us," McGrane said.

The Purple Eagles continue their road swing when they travel to Pennsylvania to face Duquesne on Friday, Sept. 21, and Bucknell on Sunday, Sept. 23.