BUFFALO – The D'Youville University men's soccer team fell to Saint Michael's College in a hard-fought 3-1 contest on Friday.
 
The Saints outshot the Purple Knights seventeen to nine, but Saint Michael's was still able to prevail. DYU goalkeeper Matthew Solorio (Kansas City, Mo.) faced five shots on goal, recording two saves.
 
Sophomore Ethan Robinson (Toronto, Ontario) and senior Charlie Stewart (Aberdeen, Sweden) both had looks at goal in the seventh minute, but neither could find the back of the net.
 
In the ninth minute, Saint Michael's was able to get past the defense and put one past Solorio to go ahead 1-0.
 
In the 16^th minute, the Saints saw a golden opportunity to tie the game when freshman Omar Daoudi (South Burlington, Vt.) drew a penalty in the box. However, the Purple Knights' goalkeeper was able to stop the penalty kick and keep the score at 1-0.
 
Robinson saw another scoring opportunity on a breakaway in the 22^nd minute, but his shot missed just wide left.
 
DYU was able to breakthrough in the 42^nd minute, when sophomore Finn Savage (Wrexham, Wales) sent in a beautiful cross that was headed in by freshman Frederick Balmforth (Oslo, Norway) to knot the game at 1-1 heading into halftime. This was Balmforth's first collegiate goal.
 
Saint Michael's came out of the locker room firing, breaking the ice in the 48^th minute and scoring again just three minutes later to take control 3-1.
 
In the 79^th minute, freshman Shawn Richardson (Thailand, Sweden) tried to draw the Saints a little closer, but his shot was steered away.
 
DYU's final scoring chance came in the 86^th minute, when Daoudi headed one that deflected off the left woodwork.
 
D'Youville will be back in action next Wednesday when they face Pitt-Johnstown on the road at 4:00 p.m.