ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The Bonnies (4-11, 2-3) jumped ahead early but could not hold off the nationally ranked Xavier Musketeers (10-0-4, 3-0-2) who would go on to take a 2-1 victory at McGraw-Jennings Field Sunday afternoon.

It would not take long for the Bonnies to show that they would not be intimidated by the No. 13/9 team in the nation. Just 17 seconds into the game Emmett O'Connor set up Brad Vanino for a clean shot at the net. Vanino's offering would sail wide left without forcing the Xavier goalkeeper to make the save.

SBU would keep the pressure on and create another golden opportunity for Vanino in the seventh minute. The Sinking Spring, Pa. native gained control of the ball in the Xavier box and fired away another clean look but this time the shot would be blocked by a Musketeer defender.

Xavier would get off just one shot prior to the 24th minute when Vanino broke free once again down the left side and put a shot on net that XU goalkeeper Justin Marshall deflected. Bonnies forward James Reed capitalized on the fumbled save and headed the bouncing ball into the back of the net to give SBU a 1-0 lead.

The lead would not last however. A Xavier breakaway resulted in a challenge from SBU goalkeeper Abel Bautista. The senior went in a bit too hard and a foul was called resulting in a penalty kick for the Musketeers. XU leading goal scorer Luke Spencer lined up the shot and blasted the ball right down the middle past the diving Bautista to tie the score in the 34th minute. 

In the second half XU picked up the pressure. SBU struggled to find a rhythm in their offense and simply did not create the scoring chances that they had in the first half. The Bonnies were able to force a few corner kicks but didn't generate anything productive from them.

In the 70th minute following a hand-ball call on the Bonnies, Gino De Paoli of Xavier set up a free kick from the left side of the field. With the left foot he sent a line drive across the goal mouth and to the foot of Nick Hagglund who re-directed the ball home for the score.

The Bonnies were only able to generate minor chances from then on and the final score would settle at 2-1.

SBU will be back at it next weekend looking to position themselves for a chance to make their first Atlantic 10 Championship since 2010. The Bonnies will travel to UMass on Friday (Oct. 26) then stay on the road and head to Rhode Island for a Sunday matinee matchup with Rams.

GAME NOTES: SBU outshot the Musketeers 13-8. The Bonnies are now 1-5 when they outshoot their opponent. SBU took five corner kicks while Xavier took four. Emmett O'Connor remains three assists shy of tying the all-time record of 22 for a career.