Sept. 28, 2008
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The St. Bonaventure men's soccer team snapped a two-match scoreless streak with a pair of goals against the Purple Eagles en route to a 2-0 victory over Niagara on Sunday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.
The Brown and White's second victory of the season and first since the season opening win against Army improves the club to 2-2-3 heading into Atlantic 10 action. Niagara's second straight loss to the Bonnies drops the Metro Atlantic Athletic side to 5-2-1 on the season.
Following a near miss from senior John Darrah in the eighth minute of play, the Bonnies found the back of the net for the first time in 273 minutes and 32 seconds with sophomore Dan Mitchell's second career goal. Mitchell corralled a loose ball after Sameul Maheu's initial shot was blocked and fired it into the left corner of the goal to put Bona in front 1-0 at the 13:22 mark.
St. Bonaventure controlled the pace of play throughout the first interval with an 8-2 shot advantage over the Purple Eagles.
Sophomore Kevin Mjaatvedt nearly gave his side a two-goal advantage in the 54th minute with a blast towards the target, forcing a save from keeper Jason Whitehead. Fellow classmate David DiNardo followed the save by picking up the loose ball and pushing it just wide of the far post.
In just his second collegiate contest, sophomore Juan Trevino provided the Brown and White with some cushion in the 72nd minute with his first career goal to give the club a 2-0 edge. The loose ball from Maheu's shot fell right to the feet of Trevino for an easy tap-in towards an empty net.
Sophomore David Flynn turned away five Purple Eagle shots for his second shutout of the season. Included in Flynn's saves tally was a clutch stop in the 67th minute on a shot from point blank range. The Bona defense held the nation's 20th highest scoring attack scoreless for the first time in 2008.
The Bonnies outshot Niagara 15-8 for the match and owned a 10-3 advantage on corner kicks. Five Bonnies registered multiple shots led by three strikes apiece from Maheu and Mitchell.
St. Bonaventure returns to action on Friday, October 10 for the Atlantic 10 opener against Saint Joseph's. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at McGraw-Jennings Field.
