NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – An 89th minute goal by No. 12 Loyola (9-0-1, 1-0-0) gave the visitors a narrow 1-0 victory at Niagara Field.   Niagara (7-3-2, 0-1-0) and Loyola played an extremely competitive, high-energy match in the conference opener for both squads.

“We did a great job with passing and switching the flanks tonight,” head coach Dermot McGrane. “We created great scoring chances, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

The opening half hour featured end-to-end action by both teams.

Goalkeeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.), who entered the game leading the nation in saves, made several great  great saves throughout the game, including denying Loyola’s Phil Bannister and Charlie Hutton with one-handed stabs in the first half.

Niagara’s Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y.) had the best chance to score in the first half, but had his shot turned around the other side of the post by the keeper.

In the second half, the Purple Eagles took firm control of the game as they look to score first.

Niagara’s leading point-scorer this season, Mattew Durand (Melbourne, Australia), almost added to his tally in the 56th minute. Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) sent a cross in the box and Durand shot was saved off the line by a Greyhound defender.

Niagara created more chances as the game look destined for overtime, but Loyola’s Daniel Ankrah slid to the back post to put in a cross from the wing to score with 1:19 remaining the game.

“For 89 minutes I thought we played very well, but unfortunately when you lose concentration against a team like Loyola they will punish you,” McGrane said.

Niagara is back in action on Sunday when it hosts Rider (1-7-2, 0-0-0) at 1:00 p.m.