LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – The Niagara men's soccer team made great improvements on offense in their opening game of the MAAC Tournament. Despite registering their highest shot total since Oct. 14, the Purple Eagles could not break through and lost 1-0 to the Siena Saints Thursday morning.
 
Niagara had 12 shots in the loss, their highest total since a 2-0 loss to Rider more than three weeks ago. Brandon Galanti led the way with four shots, while Brennan Koslow and Fabrizio Chiari each tallied two shots. Only five shots made it on the Siena net, however, and Saints goalkeeper Gianni Carillo turned all five away. Joel Gerberich started in net for Niagara and made one save on two shots on net.
 
The Purple Eagles opened the game with a 7-3 advantage in shots in the first half, including five shots in the opening 22 minutes, but the two sides went into halftime scoreless. It was Siena who broke through early in the second half, as Peter Gadze sent a 25-yard strike just inside the left post in the 60th minute, sending the Purple Eagles to their eighth consecutive loss.
 
Niagara did not go away quietly after the goal. Omar Cruz had a shot on net turned away by Carillo in the 70th minute, and Sergio Lujan had a chance to score off a header in the 83rd minute, but the Purple Eagles could not find their way on offense.
 
With their loss in the MAAC Tournament, the Purple Eagles conclude the season with a record of 1-16-3. Today's loss also marked the end of competition for Niagara's senior class, including Tim Magnusson, Andrew Ferguson, Kevin Garcia, Ryan Myers, and Zachary Newton.
 
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