HAMDEN, Conn. – The Niagara Purple Eagles controlled play throughout most of the match, but a pair of turnovers resulted in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Quinnipiac Bobcats to open up MAAC play.
 
Both teams registered four shots in the first half, but Niagara (3-6-1, 0-0-1 MAAC) was able to put two on target while all of Quinnipiac's shots were either blocked or wide of the goal. NU poured it on early with Julian Ekeze getting credit for the first shot on target late in the fourth minute. NU added another shot and three corner kicks from Andrew Ferguson over the next 11 minutes to keep up the pressure.  There was another flurry late in the half when Jack Welsh got a good look on goal with a header that was saved and Niagara had another pair of corners all in the 40th minute. The game headed into halftime in a scoreless tie, 0-0.
 
"We did a great job of keeping the ball today and put Quinnipiac under pressure the entire game," said head coach Eric Barnes. "At the end of the day, we have to start converting our scoring chances. The difference in the game today was their all-conference goalkeeper."
 
Niagara forced the opposing keeper to make another pair of saves in the second half as Ferguson and Tim Magnusson forced the QU keeper to make saves in the 66th and 67th minute, respectively, to bring his total for the match to four. The Purple and White had two corner kicks in the second period to bring their total to seven for the game.
 
Quinnipiac broke the tie early in the second half with a strike in the 46th minute to take a 1-0 lead. It added an insurance goal in the 79th minute and held on for the eventual 2-0 victory.
 
"A poor decision on the ball when we were in possession cost us both goals as they scored on the only two shots they had on goal," Barnes explained.
 
Niagara comes back to Western New York for Saturday's home game against the Monmouth Hawks at 7:00 p.m.