PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Niagara men’s soccer team defeated the Duquesne Dukes, 4-2, in its second non-conference tune-up on Sunday afternoon at Rooney Field at the Duquesne Invitational.   

Three first-half goals from sophomore midfielder Jacob Ohlin, sophomore forward Callum Willmott and sophomore defender Michael Hanton propelled the Purple Eagles (1-0-1) to their first win of the 2012 campaign. 

"I’m proud of the boys and the way they fought today,” head coach Chase Brooks said.  “After the result we sustained on Friday, it would have been very easy to just roll over and not come out with the right mentality.  We came out and worked hard for every inch and the result shows that." 

Ohlin scored the first goal of the opening half in the 13th minute of play to give the Purple Eagles the 1-0 lead.  Ohlin received a cross off a free kick from fellow sophomore midfielder Kyle Moraldo and knocked it in for his first goal of the season.  The assist was Moraldo’s first on the year.

Willmott gave the Purple Eagles a two-goal cushion in the 25th minute after stealing the ball in front of the Dukes’ (1-1-0) net, placing it in the right corner for his first tally of the season.  Hanton added a tally for Niagara’s third goal on a well-placed header off a rebound attempt by freshman Keaton Levock with three minutes left in the opening half to increase the Purple Eagles lead to 3-0 heading into halftime.  The assist was Levock's first collegiate point.  

After a penalty kick goal in the 52nd minute of play by senior forward Joshua Patterson to make it 3-1, senior forward Bryan Da Cruz netted his own pentalty kick tally of the game in the 69th minute en route to Niagara’s first win over the Dukes since Sept. 19, 2008. 

Sophomore defender Nick Anderson added a goal late in the game to make it 4-2, but it was too late to rally back from the three-goal deficit.    

Niagara senior goalkeeper Brett Petricek made six saves on the afternoon. 

"We’re looking forward to getting back to work this week," Brooks added.  "We need to fix up what needs to be fixed and hopefully have a good upcoming weekend.” 

Senior defender Rene De Zorzi was named Co-MVP of the Duquesne Invitational after his strong play in the back for the Purple Eagles.  Senior forward Bryan Da Cruz, and freshmen Daniel Ulicny and Julian Ekeze were named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Purple Eagles return to action on Friday, Aug. 31 against non-conference foe the Syracuse Orange at 7 p.m. before returning to Monteagle Ridge on Sunday, Sept. 2 for their home opener against Wisconsin-Green Bay.