NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara women's soccer program picked up a 3-1 win over Cleveland State Thursday night on its home pitch to improve to 3-1 on the young season, while the Vikings fall to 0-4 overall. The Purple Eagles tallied never trailed in the contest and scored all three goals in the second half of play. 
 
How it Happened
Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half as the game remained scoreless after 45-minutes of action, however, the first two goals would come quickly in the second half as Niagara broke the scoreless tie in the 50th minute when Maia MacLean scored on the Baillie Colling cross into the back of the net to give NU the lead.
 
The Purple Eagles would waste no time to take a two-goal lead as Isabella Mazzaferro broke past the defense and launched one into the back of the net from 20-yards away just two-minutes later.
 
Maddie Crosbie would make her lone save of the contest in the 65th minute, however, in the 70th minute the Vikings would get one past the Niagara keeper to cut the Purple Eagle lead in half.
 
Niagara would quickly regain a two-goal lead as Cleveland State was called for a handball in the 71st minute of action, leading to an Emma Bough penalty kick tally.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 6-3-2 all-time against Cleveland State, including a 4-1-1 mark at home.
• The win marked the first for Marissa Birzon as a collegiate head coach.
• Bough and Mazzaferro now have three goals on the season.
• Bough has scored a goal in each Niagara win this season.
• MacLean's goal was her first of the season and first since her sophomore campaign.
• Six different Purple Eagles registered a full 90 minutes of action, the most in a single game this season.
 
Up Next
Niagara will host Little Three rival St. Bonaventure on Sunday, Sep. 1 at noon. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
 
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