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The Niagara men's soccer team concludes its three-game home stand Thursday when they play the University at Buffalo Bulls. The game will be under the lights at Niagara Field, starting at 7:00pm. Niagara dropped two one-goal decisions to open the home stand, falling 3-2 to NJIT and 1-0 to Saint Francis.
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Thursday's match is set to be televised locally on LCTV (Channel 20).
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Last Time Out
- In their home opener, the Purple Eagles were in a battle throughout with NJIT, heading into the second half scoreless.
- After trailing early into the second half, freshman Mbongeni Tshuma notched his first collegiate goal off of a feed from Bautista Pedezert to tie the game at 1-1. Tshuma finished the match with one goal and one assist in just 27 minutes.
- After allowing a second goal minutes after grabbing the equalizer, senior defender Konrad Zydowicz tied the game up at 2-2 in the 74th minute.
- The Purple Eagles had their chances to score the game winner but were unable to capitalize, allowing the Highlanders to strike off of a corner in the 83rd minute, clinching a 3-2 victory.
- In the second game of the weekend, the Purple Eagles welcomed the Saint Francis Red Flash
- After some early chances for Niagara went by the way side, the Red Flash grabbed the opening goal in the 30th minute when goalkeeper Joel Gerberich was unable to grab a loose ball, allowing the Red Flash to score the lone goal of the contest.
- Gerberich made five saves in his first start of the season.
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Purple Points
- The Purple Eagles are ranked fifth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 1Â goal per game. Niagara's five total goals against rank third in the MAAC.
- After scoring two goals in the season opener at Robert Morris, Mackenzie Roach is fourth in the conference with 0.50 goals per game.
- Niagara is ranked fourth in the conference in scoring offense (1.50).
- Freshman Mackenzie Roach leads Niagara in scoring with five points (two goals, one assist) through five games. Fellow rookies Absalom Solorio Villalpando and Mbongeni Tshuma and senior Konrad Zydowicz all have one goal and one assist in 2016.
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Across the Pitch: University at Buffalo Bulls (6-0-0)
- Thursday night's game between Niagara and UB will be the Purple Eagles' first against a Big 4 rival this season.
- Last season, Niagara traveled to UB and trailed at halftime 2-0, but tied it up in the closing minutes at 2-2 on a goal by Bautista Pedezert.
- The Bulls have come running out of the gate this season winning each of their first six games, their best start since 2005 when they began 8-0.
- UB already took down fellow Big 4 rival Canisius and retained the Shield, beating the Golden Griffins 1-0. Junior defender David Enstrom scored the winning goal in the 81st minute.
- Senior Russell Cicerone leads the NCAA in goals (8) and is tied for second in the nation in assists (5).
- The Bulls have recorded the most shutouts in the nation so far this season (5) and are second in the nation in team goals against average (0.16).
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Big 4 Shield
- In Thursday night's game, the Purple Eagles can claim the Big 4 Shield with a win over Buffalo.
- First awarded in 2014, Niagara competes with Buffalo, Canisius, and St. Bonaventure for the Big 4 Shield as an award for victory in a local rivalry matchup.
- Niagara won the inaugural Big 4 Shield match against Buffalo in a 2-1 victory on Sept. 12, 2014.
- Buffalo took control of the Shield in 2015, and after a 2-2 tie with Niagara on Sept. 20, 2015, the Bulls retained the title on a penalty kick shootout.
