BALTIMORE, MD. - The Niagara women's soccer team (5-4-1, 0-2-0 MAAC) fell behind early and couldn't score the game-tying goal, falling to the host Loyola Greyhounds (5-6-2, 1-1-0 MAAC) by a 1-0 score on Sunday afternoon.

Down 1-0 in the second half, the Purple Eagles had a few chances to tie the game. Sophomore Julianne Viviano rang a shot off the crossbar in the 69th minute, while two shots off of corner kicks by junior Adrianna Gallo and sophomore Jamie Raepple didn't find the back of the net in the waning minutes of regulation.

Niagara and Loyola traded momentum in the first half, until the Greyhounds scored the lone goal of the contest. The Purple Eagles were called on an illegal passback to senior goalkeeper Ashleigh Bowers, which resulted in an indirect free kick from eight yards out. In the 30th minute, Lina Staropoli nailed the free kick and it was deflected past Bowers by Nichole Shiro, to take a 1-0 lead.

"We dug a hole for ourselves this weekend," head Niagara women's soccer coach Peter Veltri said. "We have seven games remaining to climb back out. We need to play with urgency here on out if we want to have a shot at the MAAC Tournament."

Bowers made six saves in the loss to the Greyhounds.

The Purple Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 9, when they host cross-town rival Canisius in the first match of the 2010-11 Battle of the Bridge series. Niagara is 7-1-1 against the Golden Griffins since the 2002 season.