HAMDEN, CONN – The Purple Eagles saw its 2022 season come to a close Thursday afternoon in Hamden, Conn., when Quinnipiac defeated Niagara, 5-1, in the semifinal round of the MAAC Men's Soccer Championship.  
 
Game Recap
First Half
• The Bobcats struck first, taking a 1-0 lead 54-seconds into the contest.
• All-MAAC selection, Rodrigo Almeida would tie the game at 1-1 in the 12th minute when he headed a corner into the top corner of the goal.
• Quinnipiac would score twice before the end of the half to take a 3-1 lead into the intermission.
• Niagara's top opportunity to score its second goal 26th minute when Almeida put one on goal, but the Quinnipiac keeper was there for the stop.
 
Second Half
•   Ali Alomari would threaten the Bobcat goalie with a shot in the 48th minute, but Karl Netzell was there to make the save to keep the Bobcats up by two.
• The Bobcats took a 4-1 lead in the 52nd minute and a 5-1 lead four minutes later.
• Federico Cugge would have a shot saved in the 73rd minute with Niagara down 5-1.
• Moments later, Almeida would take a penalty shot to put the Purple Eagles down by three, 5-2, with less than 15 minutes to play.
• In the 82nd minute Jayson Repine would slide across the goal line to keep Quinnipiac from scoring their sixth of the game.

Head Coach Bill Boyle's Postgame Comments
"I am proud of the team - it was a pleasure being around them each every day. We have continued to progress each and every year and it's sad to see us run out of gas this year, figuratively speaking. They tried as hard as they could, but the legs weren't there."

"Quinnipiac deserves a lot of credit, they are very deserving."

"We will learn from it and start working toward next year."
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara finishes the 2022 season 5-9-6 overall and 4-2-4 in MAAC play.
• The Purple Eagles took 13 shots, with five landing on goal.
• Almeida became the second Purple Eagle this season to record a multi-goal game. The Portugal, native also reached double-digit goals for the season, becoming the second Purple Eagle in as many years to reach that mark.
• Jamie Barry made a career-high nine saves in the contest.
 
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