NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Looking to earn their first four-game winning streak in three seasons, the Niagara Purple Eagles open up their home conference schedule against the Rider Broncs on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Scene Setter
- The Purple Eagles come in winners of their last three contests dating back to Sept. 6, earning wins against St. Franics (PA), St. Bonaventure and Iona.
- The Purple Eagles are looking to their first four-game winning streak since Sept. 26-Oct. 3, 2015, when Niagara defeated Fairfield, Iona, Siena and Quinnipiac.
- A Niagara win on Saturday would mark four straight victories to open home play at Niagara Field, a feat that has not happened since the 1988 season. The team has not won four straight home games since 2014, when Niagara rallied over seven consecutive victories to close out the home schedule, including a win against Canisius in the MAAC Tournament.
- Over the last eight seasons, NU is 6-2-0 in conference home openers, with its most recent win coming on Sept. 24, 2016, a 3-0 win against Quinnipiac.
- Niagara and Rider are two of three teams to win their MAAC opener last weekend. Saint Peter’s is the other day.
Kickoff Tidbits
- Niagara opened MAAC play last weekend on the road against Iona, earning a 3-0 victory on Sept. 15.
- The Purple Eagles rank second in the MAAC in multiple categories, including shots per game (15.12), points per game (4.62) and goals per game (1.75). Niagara is also tied for first alongside Monmouth for most shutouts this season with four.
- Annie Ibey, Lauren Testa and Ida Miceli all scored goals against Iona, while Ibey also added an assist on Testa’s goal.
- Ibey’s four-game winning goals are currently tied for the third-most in the NCAA.
- Ibey currently leads the team in points with 13 (four goals, two assists), while Araujo has marked six points for the Purple Eagles (two goals, two assists). Hailey Bicknell also has two goals for the Purple Eagles this season.
- Shania van Nuland played all 90 minutes in goal for Niagara and recorded two saves en route to her second shutout of the season.
- Niagara is on a current shutout streak of 286 minutes. The program record is 369 set in 2014.
Third Time’s The Charm For Ibey
- Annie Ibey earned her second consecutive and third MAAC Rookie of the Week Award for the season on Sept. 17.
- The freshman from Niagara Falls, Ont. finished with three points (one goal, one assist) in Niagara’s 3-0 win at Iona on Sept. 15 to open the MAAC schedule.
- Ibey’s four game-winning goals currently the leads the conference, while her 13 points (five goals, three assists) leads the team and is second across the MAAC.
Across The Pitch
Rider Broncs (5-2-1, 1-0-0 MAAC)
- The Broncs comes into Saturday’s game winners of their last three games, including a 1-0 winner to open conference play against Monmouth on Sept. 16.
- Freshman back Niamh Cashin was named to the TopDrawSoccer.com National Team of the Week on Wednesday. Cashin scored the lone goal against Monmouth last Sunday.
- In the all-time series, Niagara currently holds the edge, 11-9-2, with the teams playing to a tie at Rider in the most recent matchup on Sept. 30, 2017, 1-1.
- Niagara is looking for its first win in the series since Oct. 15, 2014, a 2-1, victory at Niagara Field.
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