NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Theo Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/University of Rio Grande) scored his second goal of the year, but the Rider University men's soccer team fell at Niagara, 2-1, Saturday evening. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 1-7-1 (0-2-0 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles are now 4-3-0 (1-1-0 MAAC).

Rider did well to create chances in the first half, putting five of seven shots on target. But after Yoav Arikha (Tel Aviv, Israel/Tichonet) made a diving save on a Chase Dade shot to knock the ball off the left post and out with just over 11 minutes left in the first, a Purple Eagles cross knocked off the hand of a Broncs defender for a penalty kick. Juan Cardona shot low inside the left post for a 1-0 lead at 35:53. The Niagara lead remained 1-0 at the half.

The Purple Eagles extended the lead to 2-0 in the 59^th minute as Reon Tezuka played the ball into the box and his attempt at a cross was deflected by a Broncs defender before Niklas Kneller streaked in to redirect the ball into the net. The Broncs responded in the 68^th minute, with Da Silva getting a head on Gio Polizzi's (San Ramon, CA/Tilden Preparatory [Missouri State]) free kick into the box to deflect it across the mouth of goal, right-to-left and inside the left post, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Polizzi got a look from atop the 18-yard box with just less than six minutes remaining, but it sailed wide right and Niagara held on for the 2-1 victory.

Notes
- Arikha got the start in goal for the Broncs, making four saves.  
- Niagara cut the Broncs' lead in the all-time series to 14-9-4. Rider was 7-1-1 against Niagara in nine prior meetings since 2014, with the lone loss coming in overtime in 2019.
- Arikha, Max Schrader (Cherry Hill, NJ/Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy), Leo Arndt (Dusseldorf, Germany/Lore Lorentz College), Da Silva, Landon Lackner (Perry Hall, MD/Loyola Blakefield [St. John's]) and Kaelan Debbage (Queensland, Australia/Kawana Waters State H.S. [Spring Arbor Univ./Gardner Webb]) each played all 90 minutes.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Da Silva's goal was his second of the year and his fifth as a Bronc.
- Polizzi recorded his first assist as a Bronc.
- Niagara took a 14-13 edge in shots, while the Broncs took a 7-6 edge in shots on goal.  
- Both teams took four corner kicks.  
- The Broncs were cautioned twice to one yellow card for Niagara.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Wednesday, when they play host to Manhattan. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on BroncVision from Ben Cohen Field.