FAIRFIELD, CONN. – Niagara (1-6-2, 1-1-1 MAAC) picked up its first win of the 2023 season with a 2-0 win over Fairfield (3-6-0, 0-3-0 MAAC) in MAAC men's soccer action Saturday afternoon.  
 
Sophomore goalie Jamie Barry made nine saves to earn the clean sheet, while Matheus Spina and Gianluca Del Priore found the back of the net in the win.
 
How it Happened
The Purple and White would strike first when Lucas Fenton found Spina for the opening marker on just the teams second shot of the contest.
 
In the 16th minute of play Asher Barnes would look to make it a 2-0 NU lead but the seniors shot was wide left of the goal, keeping the Stags within one.
 
Moments later, the Stags would put a shot on target, but Barry was there for the save, his first of the contest.
 
Later on in the half, Barry would make four saves in a six-minute span to keep Fairfield off the board.
 
The Stags nearly evened the score to start the second half of play when a shot went off the crossbar, but Niagara would hold on to its 1-0 advantage to start the second.
 
In the 61st minute, Felix Kogler would take NU's first shot of the second half and first since that Barnes attempt early in the first half, with this one also going off target.
 
Niagara would get the brace in the 77th minute of play when Del Priore found the back of the net.
 
The Stags wouldn't back down after going down by two goals as they tested Barry immediately after NU's second tally and again in the 79th minute, with both shot attempts finding Barry for the save.
 
Fairfield nearly cut the Purple Eagle lead in half in the 85th minute, but Barry was able to make the save to his right to secure the clean sheet.
 
Niagara Notes
• NU is now 6-27-1 against Fairfield all-time, ending a six-game losing streak to the Stags that dated back to 2017.
• Del Priore's tally is the first of his collegiate career, while Spina's goal is his first as a Purple Eagle.
• Barry's nine saves is a season-high for the sophomore out of Dublin, Ireland. It is also his first clean sheet of the season.
• Niagara's five points (two goals, one assist) is its most in a single game this season.
• The Purple and White's two shots on goal were a season-low.
 
Up Next
Niagara returns to Monteagle Ridge for a Saturday afternoon match against Siena on Oct. 7. Opening kickoff between the Purple Eagles and Saints is set for 2 p.m.
 
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