Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College men's soccer team recorded its first loss of the season against Niagara on Saturday. The Dolphins finished with an 11-7 shot advantage, including eight attempts after halftime.
"Disappointing that we weren't able to build on some good form going into the game," said head coach
Callum Donnelly '17, 'M 21. "Niagara capitalized on our mistake with a great goal."
Le Moyne (3-1-1)
Starters: Dupell (GK), Kreuzpaintner, Lundstrom Svahnqvist, Ludemann, Palmer, Michitti, Karbownik, Krzeminski, Allport, Huss, Weisser.
Niagara (1-1-3)
Starters: Grant (GK), Kildee-Doolan, Rauch, Apolon, Mittelstadt, Tezuka, Pratas, Santos, Brooks, Dade, Fujishiro
Recap:
The Dolphins built early pressure in a scoreless first half with corner kicks at 11:23 and 18:28, and junior forward
Rhys Allport (Wirral, England/Reaseheath) followed the second with a shot at 19:04. The half became more stop-start through the middle stretch, with fouls on both teams and a yellow card to Niagara's Antonio Pratas at 27:33 before Tommy Mittelstadt sent a shot out top at 27:50.
Niagara broke through at 32:40 when Chase Dade scored, and although senior forward
Myles Palmer (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport/Roberts Wesleyan) forced a save from Grant Wyles at 36:35 before the Dolphins added a late corner and an
Aiden Granger shot, Niagara took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Trailing 1-0, the Dolphins opened the second half with pressure as Allport shot wide at 47:12, earned a corner in the 50
th minute and redshirt junior forward
Felix Ludemann (Wrestedt, Germany/Herzog-Ernst-Gymnasium Uelzen) put two attempts toward goal before graduate student midfielder
Antonino Pagano (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius/Syracuse/Coastal Carolina) hit the top woodwork at 53:44.
The half grew more physical through the middle stages, though the Dolphins still created a Ludemann shot and a corner in the 63rd minute. Niagara threatened later with Reon Tezuka forcing a save from senior goalkeeper
Wyatt Dupell (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) at 65:58, and the visitors added multiple looks around a 73:16 sequence that included a red card to senior defender/midfielder
Maximilian Huss (Karben, Germany/Elly-Heuss-Schule). The Dolphins continued to chase the equalizer with late attempts from Ludemann, freshman defender
Bradley Mohammed (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) and junior forward
Noah Morelli (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara-Wheatfield), plus an 84:50 corner, but Niagara held the 1-0 score through the final whistle.
"We will learn from this and go again on Monday," said Donnelly.
'Phin Highlights:
Ludemann led the Dolphins with four shots. Allport added two shots. Palmer put his lone attempt on goal. Dupell played all 90 minutes in goal and finished with one save.
What's Next:
Up next, the Dolphins travel to Vestal, N.Y., to face Binghamton University on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.
