NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men’s soccer team (6-2-1, 1-0) got back to its winning ways by defeating MAAC opponent Marist (3-3-3, 0-1) by a score of 1-0 to begin conference play.
 
With the win, Niagara is now 5-3-1 in its last nine MAAC opening contests (one of those losses was a 1-0 loss to Loyola when the Greyhounds were ranked No. 12 in the nation).  The Purple Eagles had to fight through a tight game in what was head coach Chase Brooks' first conference match. 
 
“Marist is a very good team and they put it to us in the first half a little bit,” Brooks said.  “The guys battled hard, executed, and we did what we had to do to get the win.”
 
Niagara would score the game’s only goal in the 62^nd minute. Liam Gilbert (Southampton, England) sent a long pass to Carl Haworth (Barrie, Ont.) who set up a two-on-one with Bryan Da Cruz (Barrie, Ont.).  The pass from Haworth beat the lone defender and Cruz would tap in the pass from a foot out for his second goal of the season.
 
“Carl has been doing things like that all year and it was nice for Da Cruz to get that goal, he was in the right place and just walked it in,” said Brooks.  “The build up to that was fantastic with Liam’s pass through to Carl in space and the guy’s just did what they had to do.”
 
The Purple Eagles would hold on to win the game after being outshot by Marist in the final half 7-4 and 14-12 overall. 
 
“We talked all year about battling through, winning your individual battles, and doing the little things right,” Brooks said.  “We’ve been through a couple battles like that this year so the guys are getting more and more used to that.” 
 
“This is what it takes to win at the Division I level.”
 
The Purple Eagles are back in action on Sunday when they host Siena at 1 p.m. 

Box Score