NIAGARA UNIV., NY – Host Niagara University (1-3-0) got all the goals it needed in the opening six minutes and defeated the visiting Hartwick men's soccer team (0-4-1) by a final score of 2-1 on Wednesday night. The Purple Eagles capitalized on their first two chances of the game to secure their first win of the season. The Hawks, who had a solid effort for the final 85 minutes of the game, doubled up NU on the night in shots, 16-8.
The Purple Eagles first tally came 4:08 into the game as Gino Corasaniti scored off a cross from teammate Carl Haworth. One minute and 39 seconds later the Hartwick deficit was two as Liam Gilbert slid a through ball in to Levi Tesch who slotted the ball home past Wright for a 2-0 lead.
Hartwick was able to quickly cut the Niagara advantage to just one in the eighth minute as Steven Amaya (Oakland Gardens, NY/MLK) scored on a free kick for his second tally of the year. The Purple Eagles would fire two more shots on 'Wick goalie keeper Jake Wright (Los Angeles, CA/Cal State Northridge) following Amaya's tally, but the Hartwick defense would hold its host without another shot for the next 30 minutes.
The Hawks out-shot NU 4-0 over the final 20 minutes of the first half. Cleyon Brown (Kingston, Jamaica/Berkshire School) had a shot turned away by Niagara keeper Michael Moran in the 24th minute and Tyler Bailey (Spencer, NY/Binghamton Univ.) had a shot cleared off the line in the 36th.
Hartwick controlled play in the second half finishing with a wide 10-3 margin in shots. One of the Hawks' best opportunities came in the 73rd minute as senior Michael Cunningham (Dunedin, New Zealand/John McGlasham) forced a save from Moran. Brown pounced on the rebound but his shot was cleared off the line by a Purple Eagle defender once again. Dan Summers (Banstead, England/Sutton Grammar) took the last 'Wick shot in the 85th minute but it was blocked and never reached the target.
Wright closed the game with two saves. Moran stopped four Hartwick shots to go along with two stops from his defenders.
The Hawks return to Elmore Field on Saturday. 'Wick hosts the University at Albany at 7 p.m.
