“Once again a lack of composure and quality in front of goal was the difference in the game,” head coach Dermot McGrane said. “Rider didn’t have many good scoring chances, but finished the few they had.”

The Purple Eagles were plagued with missed chances and poor finishing throughout the game, including hitting the post, the bar and failing to score inside the six-yard box on a couple of breakaways. 

Niagara (4-8-1, 2-2-0 MAAC) went down 2-0 in a six-minute span in the first half. Rider (4-8-0, 1-2-0 MAAC) recorded tallies in the 24th and 30th minutes from a headed goal by Nico Tramontana and a long range shot by Andrew Costas, respectively. The Broncs set back and clogged up passing lanes in order to protect their lead for the rest of the match. The end result forced the Purple Eagles to take long range shots on goal.

Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) challenged the Rider's goalkeeper, Matt Perrella, eight seconds into the second half with his patented midfield blast; however, the goalkeeper kept his shot out of the net. Perrella came up with big saves from shots by Carl Haworth (Barrie, Ont.) in the 58th minute and Bryan DaCruz (Barrie, Ont.) in the 62nd and 65th minutes. In the 80th minute, the Broncs made it 3-0 from a 15-yard shot by Brenden Noesges.

DaCruz scored an 89th minute consolation goal with a smooth 9-yard finish.

Niagara returns home for the next three games. The first game of its home stand will be a Battle of the Bridge battle against archrival Canisius on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.