Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College women's soccer team were defeated in its matchup against the Purple Eagles of Niagara.

"Definitely not the result or outcome on the scoreboard that we were looking for," said head coach Jaro Zawislan. "Credit to Niagara for finishing their chances well".

The Dolphins would make two changes to their starting XI against the Purple Eagles, with freshman forward Nicole Calle (Providence, RI/Cumberland) making her first collegiate start, and sophomore midfielder Kyla Sustad (Willet, N.Y./Cincinnatus/Merrimack) making a return to the first team.

Le Moyne started the game early, quickly earning a corner kick in the first minute of the game taken by senior midfielder Gabriella Sylstra (Little Falls, N.Y./Little Falls/Richard Bland/Old Dominion). Senior midfielder Danielle Casey (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) was first to the ball, with her header glancing just wide of the post, earning the first shot of the game for the 'Phins.

Freshman goalkeeper Mikayla McPheron (Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy) made her first save of the game in the 10th minute, stopping a shot fired at her near post with a strong right hand and deflecting it over the bar for a corner. Casey was first to the corner, using her head to clear it up the field as the Dolphins regained their defensive shape.

The Dolphins would make their first change of the contest as junior midfielder Lindey LeBlanc (Westminister, Mass./St.Bernard's) came on to replace Calle with twenty minutes left in the 1^st half. Senior defender Katelyn Courcy (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and freshman midfielder Ajla Ikeljic (Utica, N.Y./Frankfurt-Schuyler) would also come into the game to replace freshman midfielder Sara Ullman (Washington, D.C./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and sophomore midfielder Giovanna Vigliotti (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee).

The Purple Eagles would score the first goal of the contest with 6:55 left in the half off a corner kick taken by senior midfielder Maia MacLean and scored by graduate student forward/midfielder Emma Bough, which resulted in freshman forward Alivia Day (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) replacing Courcy. Le Moyne would go into the break down 1-0.

McPheron would start the 2^nd half with a save after just five minutes of action. However, the Dolphins would fire back with a shot from Vigliotti. The "Phins would score shortly after as Sylstra whipped in a cross finding Vigliotti, laying it off to Casey who calmly put the ball in the back of the net, but was called offsides.

Le Moyne would have their best chance of the game with just over thirty minutes to go, as Sylstra whipped in a corner kick that bobbled around the box until Calle rifled a shot off the post to the keepers left, resulting in another corner for the Dolphins. The ball floated around the box once again, until it found the feet of Calle, whose shot was just over the bar.

The two teams would continue to go back and forth as Le Moyne continued to battle to find their first win of the season. With just under ten minutes left in the game, Niagara would add their second goal, this time with Bough creating a chance for freshman forward Julia Jindqvist. The Dolphins were unable to find a response as the game saw itself conclude 2-0 in favor of the Purple Eagles.

"Despite the outcome, we feel as if the team has made progress from last game and are moving in a positive direction," said Zawislan. "We look forward to having a week to prepare for our next opponent."

The Dolphins are back in action next Thursday at home, as they take on the Saints of Siena College at 3:00 P.M.