NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Two goals in the first half and strong defense throughout the second gave the Niagara Purple Eagles a 2-1 win in their home opener over Big Four rival Buffalo Bulls and the inaugural victory for the Buffalo Shield.
 
"We played really well in the first half and deserved both of the goals we scored," said head coach Eric Barnes. "UB came out hard in the second half, but he boys did a great job dealing with the direct play to preserve the win."
 
Andrew Ferguson got Niagara (2-3-0) on the board first with a strike in the 16^th minute. The junior combined with Fabrizio Chiari on a nice give-and-go just outside the 18-yard box before Ferguson sent a laser beam into the lower right corner to give his squad the 1-0 lead.
 
Niagara doubled its lead in the 29^th minute with Coletun Long's first collegiate career goal when the freshman snapped a header off of a Ferguson corner kick. The Purple Eagles weathered a storm to through the final five minutes to take the 2-0 lead into the half.
 
While the offense was the story of the opening half, the defense stole the show throughout the second. Niagara withstood a strong Buffalo (1-4-0) attack and kept most of the pressure to the outside. Buffalo managed four shots, on par with NU, and Joel Gerberich made two saves to come away with his first collegiate win. The freshman would finish the night with four total saves.
 
Buffalo's lone goal came on a penalty kick in the 69^th minute that cut the lead to a 2-1 margin. Niagara held UB to just one shot through the final 10 minutes to come away with the victory and become the first holders of the Buffalo Shield.
 
"No one can take away the fact that Niagara men's soccer is the first ever holder of the Big 4 Shield," Barnes said. "We'll be ready to defend it this Sunday at St. Bonaventure."
 
The Purple Eagles have a day off before they head back on the pitch when they travel to Olean, New York to take on St. Bonaventure at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.