NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women’s soccer team held off a second half comeback by the Cleveland State Vikings (0-3-0) to win its first game of the season, 2-1. Freshman forward Laura Kimoto (Scarborough, Ont.) opened her Niagara account with a first half goal and an assist to lead the Purple Eagles (1-1-0) to their first win on the new Niagara Field.
“We came out pretty strong today,” head coach Peter Veltri said. “We had a chance to play a lot of people today and hopefully that experience will help us down the road.”
Niagara, playing its second game at the new Niagara Field, had another great crowd out to support the team and it didn’t take long for the Purple Eagles to give them something to cheer about. In the fourth minute, Kimoto out hustled her defender for a loose ball in the box and smashed it passed the keeper. The historic goal was the first-ever goal scored by Niagara on the new Niagara Field and it was Kimoto’s first-ever goal as a Purple Eagle.
Niagara continued to put pressure on the Vikings’ goal and Kimoto was in the middle of the second goal for the Purple Eagles. Kimoto got her own rebound from her shot and played it back to Courtney Davies (Las Vegas, Nev.), who was waiting at the top of the box, and fired it into the net for a 2-nil Niagara lead after 28 minutes of play. The sophomore from Las Vegas scored her first-ever goal at Niagara.
The Vikings didn’t go away quietly and started the second half on the offensive. Cleveland State midfielder Natalie Daniels scored her second goal of the year in the 76th minute to make the last 14 minutes intense, but the defense anchored by senior co-captain defender Ashley Mandrino (Farmington, N.Y.) was able to shut down the Vikings.
Goalkeeper Ashleigh Bowers (Liverpool, N.Y.) made six saves in 70 minutes of work and junior keeper Sarah Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) played 20 minutes in her first action of the season.
Both teams combined for 27 shots, with Cleveland State having the narrow edge of 14-13. The Purple Eagles did have the advantage in corner kicks with 6-4.
“We are very happy to get the first-ever win here at Niagara field,” Veltri said. “It is a big honor and I am proud of both Laura (Kimoto) and Courtney (Davies) for scoring their first-ever goals.”
The Purple Eagles will have their first road test of the season when they to travel to Pittsburgh, Pa. for a match against the Duquesne Dukes on Friday, September 5.
