BALTIMORE - The Niagara men's soccer team suffered its first MAAC loss of the season with a 4-0 setback at defending MAAC regular season champion, the Loyola Greyhounds, on Friday afternoon.  

“On the day Loyola was a better team and deserved to win,” head coach Dermot McGrane said. “We need to learn from this game, and then put it behind so that we can prepare to face Rider on Sunday.”

Loyola (5-6-1, 2-0-0 MAAC) scored all four goals in a 16-minute span, including three goals in the last 12 minutes of the first half. Niagara (4-7-1, 2-1-0 MAAC) was done in by some smooth finishing by the home team.

Keeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) denied Loyola an early lead with a 16th minute penalty kick save. The Purple Eagles were knocking on the door for the equalizer after falling behind 1-0 in the 33th minute. A few minutes after the goal, Niagara had two consecutive corner kicks, but was unable to get off a shot. The Greyhounds countered on the second corner kick and it led to their second goal in the 38th minute.

Loyola scored a crucial late goal with under two minutes remaining in the half to take a 3-0 lead into halftime. In the 49th minute, Loyola's Eddie Dines headed in Loyola's fourth goal to put Niagara in a deep hole. The Greyhounds set back and defended their lead for the remaining game, which made it difficult for the Purple Eagles on the attack.

Niagara will look to bounce back against the Rider Broncs on Sunday at 1 p.m.