NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Purple Eagles men's soccer team (2-1-0) was defeated by a veteran-laden Oakland Grizzlies team (3-0-0) 3-1 on a stormy Friday night in front of 477 fans, the largest crowd to ever see a men's soccer game at Niagara.

The whole game was played in a torrential downpour, setting the scene for an epic encounter between both undefeated teams. Both teams played a back and forth game, with each team having their chances. The two teams went to the half gridlocked at zero, and while the Grizzlies led in shots 9-6, the Purple Eagles seemed to have more scoring chances before intermission.

The second half saw Oakland take the upper hand, as Sebastian Harris beat goalkeeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) to take a 1-0 lead. Harris sent a floater toward the back of the net that was just out of the reach of the junior 'keeper.

Oakland would increase their lead just 14 minutes later, on a Martin Sandell goal that beat Fiutowski in the top corner. Harris send the ball toward Sandell, who headed the sphere top right. Fiutowski seemd to have a beat on it, just before the ball dipped past his out-stretched arms.

Then, with 9:43 remaining in the contest, a bolt of lightning suspended play for 30 minutes. Niagara gathered itslef inside the lockerroom, and came out on fire for the final minutes of play.

With under six minutes to play, Justin Roundy (Liverpool, N.Y.) sent a header over a pack of Grizzlies into an open space for Matthew Durand (Melbourne, Australia). Durand, who was stopped by the post in the first half, made the most of his chance to inch Niagara closer. His rocket shot beat Oakland's keeper in the lower left corner of the net.

Just moments later, Oakland took advantage of a miscue and recorded a quick strike past Fiutowski for a 3-1 lead. It was Harris' second goal of the contest.

With :10 left, Niagara was awarded a penalty kick after a foul inside the box. The post was again Durand's enemy, as his shot sailed left and slapped off the bar, ending Niagara's comeback chance.

"Oakland is a very good team, and while I'm not pleased with the result, I am pleased with the effort our team put forth," Niagara head coach Dermot McGrane said. "In the last 10 minutes, we had them on the ropes. Outside of a mental mistake in the back, we had a chance to take the game into overtime."

Fiutowski made eight saves in the game, while his counterpart Steve Clark made three.

Next for the  Purple Eagles will be St. Francis (N.Y.) at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the final game of the Niagara Falls Classic.