NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s soccer team (3-9-2, 1-2-1) continues Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend, traveling to Manhattan (2-9-0, 0-3-0) Friday for a 3 p.m. at Gaelic Park, on the campus of Manhattan. The Purple Eagles then visit Saint Peter’s (5-3-4, 2-1-0) Sunday at 1 p.m. at Jaroschak Field.

Niagara looks to build on a 3-0 win over Iona Oct. 17. In the win, Purple Eagles’ leading scorer Matt Stedman (Lockport) scored his fourth goal of the season, adding an assist on Niagara’s third goal. Fourth in the conference with 12 points (four goals, four assists), Stedman has two goals in the Purple Eagles’ last four games.

Starters in all 14 of Niagara’s games this season, junior Mark Spooner (Mickleover, England) and senior Simon Adair (Oakville, Ont.) have contributed with seven and six points, respectively. Spooner, a defender, has two goals and three assists, leading the MAAC with 44 shots.

Junior goalkeeper Eric Sullivan (Traverse City, Mich.) picked up his second shutout of the season in the Purple Eagles’ last contest, making five saves. Sullivan has three wins this season, with a 1.70 goals-against average.

Manhattan’s goalkeeper Colin Leaver leads the conference with 87 saves in 11 starts this season. The sophomore has started every game for the Jaspers this season, registering a 2.29 goals-against average.

On the attack, sophomores Brian Lundy and Justin Schultz lead Manhattan in scoring, both starting all 11 games for the Jaspers. Lundy leads the team with eight points on four goals, with Schultz contributing with three goals and seven points.

Manhattan leads the all-time series with Niagara, 9-3-2. The Purple Eagles defeated the Jaspers, 2-0, Oct. 26 at Niagara Field.

Under the direction of new head coach Chris Smith, Saint Peter’s is 2-1-0 in conference play, defeating Rider, 1-0, in its last game Oct. 17.

Leading the offensive charge for the Peacocks is freshman forward Murphy Wiredu. Among the MAAC leaders in both goals and points, Wiredu has five goals and 10 points to lead the Saint Peter’s attack in only his freshman season.

With nine points on three goals and three assists, freshman Juan Gaviria is second on the team in scoring, at times playing alongside Wiredu at forward.

Junior goalkeeper Pat Nagawiecki has four shutouts in his 12 starts, registering a 5-2-4 record. Nagawiecki leads the conference with over 1195 minutes in net this season and a 0.98 goals-against average.

Saint Peter’s eliminated Niagara from last season's MAAC Tournament, played at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, in Orlando, Fla. The Peacocks defeated the Purple Eagles, 4-1, Nov. 6, 2003. The all-time series between the two schools is tied, 5-5-4.