NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - In the first MAAC game of the season for both the Marist and Niagara squads, a Bryan Da Cruz goal in the 63rd minute proved to be sufficient as the match ended with the Purple Eagles on top by a score of 1-0.
In a tight, evenly-matched game, the Red Foxes started the contest strong as senior Tim Garger (Garden City, N.Y.) put a shot towards goal that rang off the post at 3:53. Marist registered their second and third shots of the game during a 82 seconds span of play from 12:28 to 13:50.
Niagara controlled the next seven minutes as they got off five shots, two of which were blocked and one, a Gino Corasaniti attempt was stopped by grad student goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny (LaGrangeville, N.Y.).
Over the final 25 minutes of the first half, each had multiple scoring opportunities with the Red Foxes taking four shots and three for the Purple Eagles. Marist's best chance was a Krystian Witkowski (Rochester, N.Y.) shot that Ben Petricek snagged to continue the shutout. The team's three other shots were blocked by Niagara defenders.
At the half, Niagara had a one shot advantage at 8-7, while each team had four corner kick attempts.
Coming out in the second period, the Red Foxes started out fast again as they unleashed three shots in the first 11 minutes, the first two, attempts by Garger and Witkowski that were saved by Petricek.
Niagara broke through with the only tally of the match at 62:31 as Da Cruz took a series of passes from Carl Haworth and Liam Gilbert and deposited a shot in the back of the net.
Marist pressed hard over the final 27 minutes to score the equalizer. They took four shots, including two header attempts that barely missed the net, one by freshman Matt Wendelken (Massapequa, N.Y.) and the other by junior Anthony Rozmus (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.).
In ninety minutes of action in net, Skonieczny made two saves.
For the game, Marist outshot Niagara 14-12, as well as held advantages in shots on goal at 4-3 and corner kicks at 6-4.
With the win Niagara improved to 6-2-1, while Marist fell to 4-3-3.
After the match head coach Matt Viggiano remarked how close the game was, "we controlled the majority of the play; unfortunately for us, they converted their opportunity and we just couldn't find a way to score." "Overall, I'm a little disappointed with the result because I really felt we could've and should've won the game."
The Red Foxes will next be in action on Sunday, Oct. 2 when they complete their road trip to the Buffalo area with a noon matchup versus Canisius.
