LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Niagara (2-8-3, 2-3-2 MAAC) suffered a 1-0 loss to Rider (6-3-4, 3-2-2 MAAC) Saturday afternoon in MAAC men's soccer action from Lawrenceville.
 
How it Happened
In the 12th minute, Jamie Barry would come up in the box looking to thwart a breakaway chance for Rider, but the Bronc attacker slipped by Barry, leading to a shot that needed to be saved by the lone Niagara defender in the box. However, the carom off the defender led to the would be game-winner for the Broncs.
 
Landon Hungerford would look to tie the contest in the 17th minute but his attempt was saved by the Rider goalie, keeping the Broncs ahead by one.
 
The Broncs took four shots for the remainder of the half, none of which threatened Barry in goal.
 
Niagara's first shot since that Hungerford attempt early in the first half came in the 54th minute of action when Asher Barnes sent one over the crossbar. Gianluca Del Priore would also see a shot go off target in the 55th minute.
 
Juan Cardona would take his first shot attempt of the contest, one that sailed wide right and kept the Purple Eagles in a 1-0 hole 56 minutes into the contest.
 
The woodwork would be Barry's friend in the 57th minute, keeping it a one score game heading into the final 30-minutes of action.
 
Rider would once again seek its second goal of the game in the 66th minute, but Barry would be there to make the save, his second of the contest. The sophomore would record two more saves as the game went on, but the Niagara attack would record just one shot on goal, an attempt to the near side post by Barnes in the 86th minute that was stopped by the Rider goalie.
 
Dominic Cintra would take one final attempt at tying the game for NU, but his shot went wide right in the 89th minute.
 
Head Coach Bill Boyle's Postgame Comments
"I was really proud of the guys response to going down a goal, we did well sustaining our attack and switching points of attack. Rider is a very good team, but we feel we are getting better every game. Jamie (Barry) was very good once again."
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara moves to 8-14-4 all-time against Rider.
• NU has scored one goal in its last four games and is 1-2-1 in that span.
• The Purple and White recorded two shots on goal in the loss, the fifth time this season NU has tallied just a pair of on target shot attempts.
• Barry finished the game with four saves and now has 60 on the season.
 
Up Next
Niagara will return home to host Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
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