NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Looking to earn their first three-game winning streak of the season, the Niagara Purple Eagles open up conference play on Saturday with a matchup against the Iona Gaels.
Scene Setter
- The Purple Eagles come in winners of their last two contests, earning a 2-0 victory against St. Francis (PA) on Sept. 6 and a 1-0 overtime win against Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Sept. 9.
- The Purple Eagles are looking to earn their first three-game winning streak since Sept. 1-8, 2017, when Niagara earned wins against Robert Morris, Akron and Fairleigh Dickinson.
- A shutout victory by the Purple Eagles would mark three consecutive games without allowing a goal, a feat that has not happened since Oct. 25-Nov. 1, 2014, headlined by a 1-0 victory over Canisius in the MAAC Tournament.
- NU is 3-6-1 in its last 10 MAAC openers with its last win coming at Fairfield (3-1) on September 19, 2015.
On the Field: Niagara Purple Eagles (4-3-0, 0-0-0 MAAC)
- The Purple Eagles rank second in the MAAC in multiple categories, including shots per game (14.71), points per game (4.29) and goals per game (1.57).
- Annie Ibey and Kelsey Araujo each registered a goal for Niagara in their home win over St. Francis (PA), while Ibey earned the game-winning goal in overtime against St. Bonaventure.
- Ibey’s three-game winning goals are currently ranked fifth in the NCAA.
- Ibey currently leads the team in points with 10 (four goals, two assists), while Araujo has marked six points for the Purple Eagles (two goals, two assists). Veda Hensel also has two assists for Niagara.
- Sabrina Locas played all 90 minutes in the win over the Red Flash, making four saves, while Shania van Nuland played all 97:20 in Olean on Sunday, earning three saves in the win.
Ibey Earns MAAC Rookie of the Week Honors
- Annie Ibey earned her second MAAC Rookie of the Week Award in three weeks on September 10.
- The freshman from Niagara Falls, Ont. recorded game-winning goals in both victories last week, including the winner in overtime against St. Bonaventure on Sept. 9.
- Ibey’s three game-winning goals currently the leads the conference, while her 10 points currently leads the team and is tied for third in the MAAC this season.
Across The Pitch
Iona Gaels (2-6-0, 0-0-0 MAAC)
- Iona comes into the contest being shut out in each of their last two games, falling in overtime to LIU Brooklyn on Sept. 9, 1-0, before falling to Stony Brook by a 4-0 score.
- Goalkeeper Emma Havrilla earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 3. The freshman earned her first career shutout against Wagner on Sept. 2, making five saves en route to a 2-0 win.
- Niagara currently leads the all-times series against Iona, 16-10-2. Niagara has been victorious in two of the last three matchups, including a 4-0 performance on Oct. 21, 2017 at Niagara Field to close out the regular season.
