NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — With playoff implications on the line for the upcoming MAAC Championships, the Niagara Purple Eagles look to finish the regular season strong at Niagara Field. The Purple Eagles take on the Fairfield Stags on Saturday afternoon, with play slated to start at 12 p.m.
Scene Setter
- Niagara, who most recently fell to Monmouth on Oct. 17 by a 2-0 score, is looking to end the regular season with a three-game winning streak at home.
- In Niagara’s most recent win, a 2-0 defeat over Saint Peter’s at home on Oct. 13, Annie Ibey and Veda Hensel registered goals en route to the win.
- Niagara’s 43 shots against Saint Peter’s marked the most shots a team in the MAAC has recorded so far this season.
- Niagara comes into their final regular season contest tied for third place in the conference standings at 14 points. The Purple Eagles are currently tied up with the Siena Saints and are a point ahead of the Rider Broncs.
Kickoff Tidbits
- Annie Ibey, a three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week recipient, leads the Purple Eagles in goals (seven) and points (17), and tied in assists (three). Ibey is third in the league in both goals and points.
- Ibey’s five game-winning goals lead the MAAC and are in a tie for the fifth-most in the country.
- Kelsey Araujo, who co-led the team in shots with eight in the win against Saint Peter’s, leads the conference in shots with 69 and is second in the MAAC with an average of 4.31 shots per game.
- Hensel also had eight shots against Saint Peter’s, establishing a new career-high for the sophomore midfielder.
- The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in shots per game (17.94), are third in shutouts (six) and tied for third in goals per game (1.44).
- With a win Saturday, the Purple Eagles will finish the home schedule with a 7-1-0 record, their best performance at Niagara Field since 2014 (9-1-1).
Across The Pitch
Fairfield Stags (7-7-2, 2-4-2 MAAC)
- Fairfield, who will be playing its penultimate game of the season on Monteagle Ridge, are coming off a 3-1 victory over Saint Peter’s on Oct. 17.
- The Stags are tied for first in the MAAC in goals per game (1.88) and are second in the conference in goals scored (30). They are also third in assists and assists per game with 21 and an average of 1.31, respectively.
- In the all-time series, Fairfield has held the edge over Niagara by a 21-9-1 margin. Dating back to 2011, Niagara is 2-0-1 against Fairfield at Niagara Field.
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