Box Score
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men’s soccer team picked up its first win versus Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure in five seasons with a convincing 3-1 victory on Sunday in front of 183 spectators in its home opener.
“I’m proud of the guys on the way they bounced back after the loss on Friday night,” said first-year head coach Chase Brooks who collected his first-ever win as a head coach. “We came out with a lot more passion and heart. We capitalized on their mistakes and didn’t create too many mistakes of our own.. We worked hard for each other and it was a team effort.”
Niagara (1-1-0) controlled the game from the start and was rewarded in the 12th minute with its first goal of the season. Mike Cunningham slipped past his defender along the outside of the box and sent a cross from the left when the Bonnie defender smashed it in his own net while trying to attempting a clear.
In the 18th minute, the Bonnies (0-2-0) were sent to 10 men when defender Kolby Banker received a red card. Four minutes later, the Purple Eagles doubled their tallied when Carl Haworth bagged his first goal of the season. Bryan DaCruz chipped a ball over the top of the defense and Haworth easily rounded the keeper and shot it into the open net.
St. Bonaventure cut the lead to 2-1 in the 54th minute on a free kick cross by Emmett O’Connor which found Kaine Moar in front of net for the tap-in. The Bonnies came close to tying the game when O’Connor effort was narrowly wide in the 60th minute.
NU, though, would seal the game in the 63rd minute from a Bonnie turnover at the back. Haworth slipped a through ball to DaCruz who slotted home his first goal of the season.
“We came out in the second half a little bit flat, but we responded well to it and that’s what you are looking for on how to respond to adversity," Brooks said. "I thought the guys responded well overall and proud of them for their first win.”
Goalkeeper Brett Petricek, who was making his second start of the season, made five saves in the game.
Niagara won its third straight home opener, while defeating St. Bonaventure at home for the first time since 2005.
The Purple Eagles will begin their five-game road trip on Friday, Sept. 2 when they face Cornell at 7 p.m.
