SYRACUSE, NY – Niagara (1-4-1) played to a hard-fought 1-0 loss at No. 16 Syracuse (5-0-1) Tuesday night in non-conference action from SU Soccer Stadium.
 
 Game Recap
 First Half
 • Niagara controlled the ball through the first five-plus minutes of play, recording one shot off the foot of Jayson Repine in the 8th minute.
• Syracuse would take the game's first pair of corners, the first in the 11th minute and the second in the 13th.  
• In the 13th minute, Nathan Opoku would send a cross to Levonte Johnson for the first goal of the match, giving Syracuse a 1-0 lead over Niagara.
• Asher Barnes had some daylight to operate in the 16th minute, putting a shot on goal in attempt to equalize, but the Cuse keeper, Russel Shealy, made the stop.
• Cuse would flip the field quickly but Josh Savoni made his first save of the contest.
• The Purple Eagles would send a cross into the box in the 27th minute but nothing came of it.
• Ali Alomari attempted a long shot in the 30th minute that went high and slightly wide of the net.
• The Purple Eagles would finish the half with three shots on goal, compared to eight for the Orange.
 
 Second Half
• Syracuse nearly took a two-goal lead in the 61st minute with an attempt that went wide right of the net.
• Federico Cugge would be booked with a yellow card in the 65th minute of action.
• Cuse had one go off the post in the 69th minute.
• Luigi Boa Morte put a chance on goal in the 73rd minute but couldn't quite connect for the equalizer.
• Savoni would make a big save in the 75th minute to keep Cuse from extending the lead.
• An ensuing Cuse corner would result in a free kick for NU after Savoni made a leaping save.
• A free kick for NU just outside the penalty area would go right into the Cuse wall, keeping the Purple Eagles off the board.
• Furkan Yildirim sent a cross into the box in the 83rd minute, but couldn't find a teammate before the ball went out of play.
• With two minutes to go, Asher Barnes would get a piece of the ball and send it toward the net but Shealy would watch it go out of play wide left.

Coaches Postgame Comments
"Very proud of the guys; all 24 came in to the game prepared and followed the tactical game plan," said head coach Bill Boyle. We gave a top 20 team all they could handle but couldn't knock one in. We reacted and adapted well after losing Nuuke (Nuukele Gboe) early. We are showing the resilience we need for good things to happen come MAAC play."
 
 Niagara Notes
 • Tuesday marked the fourth meeting all-time against Syracuse. The Orange took a 3-1 series lead over the Purple Eagles.
• Savoni faced 19 shots, making a total of four saves.
• Niagara finished the game with five shots, with two going on target.  
• Syracuse led the game with nine corners, while Niagara didn't take a corner.  
 
 Up Next
 • Niagara returns to Monteagle Ridge this Saturday, Sept. 17 for a non-conference tilt against Cornell. The Purple Eagles and Big Red will kickoff at 7 p.m. on the Niagara Sports Network.  
 
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