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Niagara University Athletics

Pedezert
2
Winner Rider RID (10-2-0, 5-0-0 MAAC)
1
Niagara NIAM (2-9-2, 1-3-1 MAAC)
Winner
Rider RID
(10-2-0, 5-0-0 MAAC)
2
Final
1
Niagara NIAM
(2-9-2, 1-3-1 MAAC)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Rider RID 1 0 0 1 2
Niagara NIAM 0 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men's Soccer Falls In Fierce Overtime Battle With No. 25 Rider

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men's soccer team battled until the bitter end in Saturday afternoon's match at Niagara Field against the first-place team in the MAAC, No. 25 Rider University. After allowing an early goal, Bautista Pedezert secured the equalizer in the 75th minute to force overtime. Goalkeeper Steve Casey stood strong in goal for the Purple Eagles, but the Broncs broke through in the closing seconds of the second overtime off a free kick deep in the Niagara zone, ending the game in a 2-1 loss for the Purple Eagles.
 
Game Summary
  • Final Score: Rider 2, Niagara 1 (2OT)
  • Niagara Goals: Bautista Pedezert
  • Niagara Assists: Danilo Pekovic
  • In Goal: Steve Casey (1-6-2) – 2 GA, 9 SV
  • Records: Niagara – 2-9-2 (1-3-1 MAAC); Rider – 10-2-0 (5-0-0 MAAC)
  • Location: Niagara Field – Niagara University, N.Y.
  • Attendance: 210
 
Game Recap
  • Niagara's defense opened the game with a strong showing, as Steve Casey led off the game with a pair of saves against Rider's Elliott Otmani.
  • Just before the 12-minute mark, the Broncs had a point-blank chance as Clement Bourret chipped a pass past Casey to earn an open shot, but Konrad Zydowicz covered the goal and was able to block Bourret's shot away from the goal.
  • Rider's offense broke through just past the 16-minute mark. Off a free kick from just to the right of the box, Jose Aguinaga placed a cross to the far post, and Sylvain Coco headed home the first goal of the game.
  • Sergio Lujan had Niagara's best chance of the first half, collecting a loose ball off of a set piece and ripping a shot from 12 yards out that was turned away by Rider goalkeeper David Pastuna.
  • Casey made three saves in the start of the second half before Niagara tied the game in the 75th minute.
  • Freshman Danilo Pekovic worked the ball deep into the Rider box before feeding it back up top. Bautista Pedezert corralled the centering pass and beat Pastuna with a shot low to the right side, knotting the score at 1-1.
  • Rider pushed back on the attack, with Bourret pressing past Casey again before having his shot blocked by the Niagara defense in the 80th minute. Casey also came up big three minutes later with his third stop of the day against Otmani, Rider's leading goal scorer. Aguinaga missed a shot high in the closing seconds, sending the game to overtime.
  • The Broncs nearly closed out the game in the closing seconds of the first overtime, but Casey made a sprawling denial on the goal line against Otmani before turning away a second chance at the ball from Bourret. Niagara cleared the ball and proceeded to the second overtime.
  • Pekovic had a chance to win the game in the 109th minute, as he and Zulfikar Karimi lined up for a free kick from 15 yards out. After Karimi passed on the shot, Pekovic lined a shot that went just over the goal.
  • A foul deep in the Niagara end led to a 10-yard free kick for Rider with eight seconds left on the clock, and Aguinaga beat Casey with a shot to the left post, sending Niagara to a 2-1 loss  

Inside the Numbers
  • Steve Casey made nine saves in goal for a second-straight game, giving him four straight games with nine or more stops. Casey entered the game second in the NCAA with 6.38 saves per game.
  • The first Rider goal cut Casey's consecutive shutout streak at 217 minutes and 18 seconds, after the redshirt-junior held clean sheets in his last two starts.
  • Bautista Pedezert scored his first goal since the season opener Aug. 25 at Lipscomb, and he moves into a tie for the team lead with five points (2+1).
  • Danilo Pekovic scored his first collegiate point with an assist on Pedezert's goal.
  • Rider held a 25-15 advantage in total shots and a 14-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Broncs also outshot Niagara 7-2 in overtime.
  • Both teams had six corners in the match.
 
Up Next
  • Niagara looks to get back in the win column as the team wraps up its two-game home stand next Wednesday, Oct. 18 with a 4 p.m. match against the Marist Red Foxes.
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for men's soccer updates, follow Niagara men's soccer at @NiagaraSoccer. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.
 
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