BALTIMORE – Niagara (11-5-1, 4-3-0 MAAC) dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to the Loyola Greyhounds (6-5-4, 4-0-2 MAAC) on Friday afternoon at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field.  Stephanie Gartley (Camlachie, Ont.) opened the scoring nine minutes into the game, but the Purple Eagles were done in by a game-winning goal in the 93^rd minute.

“We made way too many mistakes today and it led directly to their goals,” head coach Peter Veltri said. “It was an evenly played match, but we made a lot of mistakes in our third of the field and they capitalized on them. I hope we can learn from this setback and get back in the winning column.”

The winner of today’s game had a chance to separate itself from the pack of teams competing for the top four spots in the MAAC, and depending on other results, could be sitting in first place in the conference.

Niagara scored on the counter attack in the ninth minute.  Defender Erin Baker (Oswego, N.Y.) played a through ball to Gartley and the criminology and criminal justice major beat her defenders and the keeper to score her team leading 11^th goal.

The senior forward had her 12^th goal denied by the finger tips of the Loyola keeper three minutes later.

The Purple Eagles were put on their back heels for the rest of the half. The Greyhounds’ pressure eventually broke through and Loyola equalized four minutes before the half.

Loyola continued the aggressive offensive attack in the second half, outshooting Niagara 8-2 in the half, but neither team could get the finishing touch needed to end the game.

The Greyhounds would put the game away in the 93^rd minute on a turnover in the back by Niagara, which allowed Loyola’s Lea Day to head home to the game-winner.

The defeat leaves Niagara tied for fourth with Siena, but would lose out on the tie breaker due to a loss to the Saints earlier this season.

Niagara faces Rider in a crunch match on Sunday at noon to keep its hopes of playing in the MAAC Championship alive.