By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (2-3-0) at NIAGARA (1-5-0)
Saturday, Sept. 14 – 7:00 p.m.
Lewiston, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
The St. Bonaventure University men's soccer team travels to take on Little Three rival Niagara Saturday, Sept. 14. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies battled Quinnipiac on the road last Saturday afternoon, winning 2-1 in thrilling fashion by way of a game-winning goal from Umechi Akuazaoku in the 85th minute.
Akuazaoku controlled the ball in the middle of the field off a pass from Gabriel Addo and rocketed home a shot from just outside the box, sending the Bonnies to victory.
The Bonnies grabbed their first lead of the game in the 58th minute when a low cross from Daniel Helle found an open Keegan Dawson far post for his first goal of the season.
In net, Ben Choudhry made his first career start, finishing the contest with three saves.
ROAD WARRIORS
Saturday marks the fifth game of a stretch of five straight games on the road for the Bonnies. Bona's has traveled to take on Cleveland State, Canisius, Penn State and Quinnipiac, winning two out of the last three contests.
Following Saturday, the Bonnies will have a stretch of three straight contests on home turf, hosting Le Moyne (Sept. 18), Fordham (Sept. 21) and Robert Morris (Sept. 24).
FAMILIAR FOES
Bonnies head coach Kwame Oduro has ties with every Little Three program. Prior to coming to St. Bonaventure, Oduro spent four seasons as an assistant coach for Canisius from 2011-14. During his time there under head coach Dermot McGrane, Oduro helped turn around the fortunes of the Canisius program. In the 2014 season, the Golden Griffins set a school record for wins in a season with nine, including eight shutouts.
Oduro was also a standout player at Niagara from 2004-06, helping Niagara earn back-to-back MAAC Tournament bids for the first time in the program's history during his junior and senior campaigns while as a student-athlete.
NIAGARA NOTES
Niagara enters Saturday's contest 1-5 overall but are coming off its first win of the season, defeating VMI, 5-0, last Saturday. The Purple Eagles have dropped matchups against UAlbany, Syracuse, UMBC, Navy and Duquesne. Niagara was picked to finish eighth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference preseason poll while Felix Kogler was selected to the All-MAAC Preseason Team.
Kogler leads the Purple Eagles with eight points in six games, scoring three goals and adding two assists. Gerrad Lopez Forner has also registered multiple goals, scoring twice to go along with one assist.
In net, Jamie Berry has made 35 saves while allowing 14 goals this season.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies are back in action Wednesday, Sept. 18 when they return home to host Le Moyne. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. at the Marra Athletic Complex.
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For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get men's soccer updates @BonniesMSoccer. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies Men's Soccer can be found on Instagram @bonniesmsoccer
