Niagara women’s soccer blanks Fairfield on Senior Day

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Niagara University women’s soccer team concluded their regular season with a commanding 2-0 win over the Fairfield Stags on Saturday.

SYNOPSIS  
On a day celebrating the senior class, it was goals from two underclassmen that buoyed the Purple Eagles to victory. Alexis Horwedel opened the scoring a splendid long range effort in the first and Annie Ibey netted Niagara’s second coming off a clinical counter attack. Senior Shania van Nuland made two crucial saves and the defense kept the Stags from generating much offense. Niagara now awaits its opponent in the upcoming MAAC Tournament.
 
Seniors Honors

• Prior to the game, the Purple Eagles recognized their senior class – Kristina Vassallo, Andrea Visca, Shania van Nuland, Breanna Guevara, and Amelia Gulley.

 
MOMENTS

• The opening 35 minutes featured few chances by both teams.
• The Purple Eagles’ first goal came from a wonderful strike by Alexis Horwedel in the 36^thminute. Selena Mangoni beat her marker to the byline and cut a cross back into the path of Horwedel, who ripped her shot just outside of the box into the top left corner.
• Fairfield had five corner kicks in the final four minutes of the half. Shania van Nuland made a big save in the 43^rd minute from a shot by Gabby Diodati.
• Niagara added its second in the 58^th on a classic counter attack. Amelia Gulley won the ball in Niagara’s defensive end and played a long through ball in the stride of Emma Lindke, who squared her pass to Annie Ibey in the box and the freshman beat the keeper far post.
• In the 71^st minute, van Nuland made another point blank save to keep the Stags off the scoreboard.
   

 
EAGLE’S EYE ON

• Shania van Nuland had a game-high six saves en route to her third shutout of the season.
• Annie Ibey scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season. Her 19 points are the most since Haillie Price’s 23 points in 2015.
• Alexis Horwedel scored her second goal of the season; both of her goals were game-winners.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Niagara improved to 7-1-0 at home for its best home mark since 2014 (9-1-1).
• The Purple Eagles are 3-0-1 in their last four meetings with Fairfield at home.

 
UP NEXT

• The Purple Eagles will in the 2018 MAAC Tournament on Sunday, October 28. Opponent and time is TBD.