Purple Eagles Top Iona on Senior Day, 1-0

Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV.., N.Y. – Freshman midfielder Darren Cooper netted the only goal of the contest, giving Niagara the 1-0 victory over the Iona Gaels Sunday afternoon at Niagara Field.

In their 2012 home finale, the Purple Eagles (11-1-4: 5-1-1 MAAC), still atop the NSCAA Division I Men’s North Atlantic Poll, collected their 11^th win this season. The win over Iona (7-10-0; 5-2-0 MAAC) ties a program record, marking only the third time since the inaugural season in 1969 that the Purple Eagles have won 11 games in a season.

“The guys battled hard today in tough elements against a tough team, and I am so proud of them for getting the result on senior day,” said head coach Chase Brooks. “We go out to win every game, and play hard to the final whistle.”

The game’s lone goal came midway through the second half when Cooper ripped a shot from a tough corner angle. The shot skipped past Iona goalkeeper Borja Barbero for Cooper’s second goal of the season.

Niagara goalkeeper Brett Petricek registered six saves in the shutout, his sixth clean sheet of the season. Barbero stopped three shots in the loss for Iona.

Niagara wraps up their regular season schedule on the road, facing off against Manhattan on Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. and Saint Peter’s on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.