NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Kelsey Araujo scored a brace, including the game-winner on a penalty kick, and Annie Ibey netted her team-leading sixth goal of the season to help the Niagara Purple Eagles walk away with a 3-1 win over the Marist Red Foxes on Wednesday afternoon.
SYNOPSIS
Niagara and Marist were physically locked in for the early minutes of the contest, with neither side registering much offense. After the teams each landed a goal in the first half, the momentum changed in the second half when the Purple Eagles were awarded a penalty kick. Kelsey Araujodelivered on the opportunity for her second goal of the day to give Niagara a 2-1 lead with just over 20 minutes to play. Annie Ibey delivered an insurance goal in the 81st minute with a wonderfully struck shot outside of the box, helping Niagara hand Marist its first conference loss of the season while also earning a home win at Niagara Field.
MOMENTS
- In the 13th minute, Hailey Bicknell looked to find Kelsey Araujo for a header just in front of the net, but the connection was just off as the shot went wide.
- The pair of Bicknell and Araujo matched up just minutes later in the 16th minute, when Bicknell hit Araujo in stride with a pass from midfield. Araujo attacked up the field towards the net before neatly chipping her shot over the goalkeeper to give Niagara the early 1-0 lead.
- In the 28th minute, Marist nearly delivered a goal to tie the game off a corner kick. Hadley Bucken cleared the goal line from the Red Foxes’ shot.
- Just minutes later, Marist scored against the run of play on a scramble in front of goal, tying the score at 1-1 in the 33rd minute; a score that remained intact heading into halftime.
- In the 69th minute, Niagara was awarded a penalty kick, and Araujo seized the opportunity, delivering her second goal of the game to reclaim the lead, 2-1.
- Shortly thereafter, the Red Foxes had another chance to tie the score once again. Marist’s Christiana Davies booted a shot that hit the crossbar before Shania van Nuland corralled the ball to maintain the Niagara lead.
- With less than 10 minutes to play, Annie Ibey delivered a strike to the top left corner to add to the Niagara lead, helping to seal a home win at Niagara Field.
EAGLE’S EYE ON…
- Kelsey Araujo recorded two goals against Marist off three shots, giving her five goals on her 2018 campaign.
- Annie Ibey notched her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
- Hailey Bicknell had a team-best four shots, including two shots on goal, while also registering her first assist of the season on Araujo’s first goal.
- Shania van Nuland recorded four saves for the Purple Eagles, while playing all 90 minutes in net.
- Niagara outshot Marist, 19-10, including by a 13-5 margin in the second half.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Kelsey Araujo’s penalty kick goal marked her second penalty kick goal of the season, making her the first Purple Eagle to record to two successful penalty kicks in a season since 2005 (Amber Niece).
- Annie Ibey’s goal in the second half gives her 15 points this season (six goals, three assists), the most in the conference.
- The Purple Eagles are 3-0-0 in their last three home games against the Red Foxes dating back to 2014. Niagara has outscored Marist by a 10-1 margin over those three games.
- Niagara is 4-0-0 in Shania van Nuland’s last four starts as goalkeeper dating back to Sept. 9.
- The Purple Eagles improved to a MAAC-best 5-1-0 at home this season.
COACH’S CORNER
- “I thought we played a very strong second half. We took it to them from the start of the second half and we put them under constant pressure. Overall, we had a lot of players that contributed to this win, so hopefully we can continue our momentum as we prepare to go on the road for the next two games.” – head coach Peter Veltri
UP NEXT
- Niagara returns to the road this weekend, facing off against Manhattan on Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
All WNY is made possible thanks to coffee and sleep deprivation.
We appreciate your readership. We like money, too.
