CLEVELAND – The Purple Eagles men’s soccer team (3-1-1)  jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but ended up battling the Cleveland State Vikings (1-3-1) to a 3-3 tie.

With the Purple Eagles leading 3-2 late in the game, the Vikings again tied the game, as in the 84th minute, Jeff Baker scored. The two teams played 20 minutes worth of overtime, with Niagara unable to capitalize on their chances.

Head coach Dermot McGrane saw his team take on a tough Cleveland State team that gave Niagara everything it had.

"I don't feel that we played as well as we could of tonight," McGrane said. "We have the ability to create scoring chances and goals, but made a few mental errors tonight that cost us."

The Purple Eagles didn't take long to get on the board, as Joe Skinner (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) set up a breakway for Matt Durand (Melbourne, Australia) as his shot from the left side kareemed into the right corner of the net for his fourth goal of the year and a 1-0 lead. Just nine minutes later, Durand would net his second goal of the evening from a Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) rebound.

The Vikings would get one back in the 21st minute, as Mitch Boyer scored on a one touch from a free kick, giving the Vikings the momentum. The Vikings tied it on a give and go play in the 37th minute, a play which would send the two teams into the half tied at two.

The Purple Eagles started out the second half just like the first, scoring just four minutes in. Billy Gustafson (Rochester, N.Y.) notched Niagara’s third goal of the game, as he knocked in a loose ball from a corner kick.

Junior goalkeeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) made 11 saves on the night, while Nick Harpel made five stops for the Vikings.

The Purple Eagles now turn their attention to a pair of games next weekend, as they are set to host Duquesne on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. and Bucknell on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.