NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - In a must-win game for the Niagara women's soccer team (10-6-1, 5-4-0 MAAC), the Purple Eagles came up short, dropping a 1-0 decision to the visiting Manhattan Jaspers (5-13-1, 3-6-0 MAAC) in front of 275 fans on Senior Day.

Niagara had numerous chances to dent the scoreboard, but couldn't get one past Jaspers netminder Kara Davis, losing their first home game of the season. With the loss, the Purple Eagles will miss the MAAC Tournament for just the second time in the last six years.

"We are extremely disappointed in the result today," head Niagara women's soccer coach Peter Veltri said. "I thought we played well. Anytime that you can hit three crossbars and a post means that you are creating chances."

Creating chances is just what the Purple Eagles did, when Niagara rang two consecutive shots off the crossbar in the opening 10 minutes of the game. Niagara had the better of play until a loose ball in the box was found by Manhattan's Megan Lavecchia, who slipped the ball past a diving Ashleigh Bowers for the 1-0 lead. Niagara outshot the Jaspers 10-7 in the first half, but went into halftime down by one.

Niagara upped its offensive attack in the second half, outshooting the Jaspers by a 12-4 margin, with Davis making seven saves. The Purple Eagles just missed the game-tying goal in the 53rd minute, when a shot from senior Caitlyn Kilkenny rang off the post. In the 88th minute, Niagara's last gasp attack saw freshman Kayla Picanco hit the crossbar, with the ball flying out the other way.

The Purple Eagles end the season with a 10-6-1 record, with a 5-4-0 record in the MAAC.