NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After playing eight of its first nine games on the road, the Niagara University men’s soccer team (4-5-0, 2-0-0) returns to Monteagle Ridge this weekend when its hosts Rider (3-6-2, 0-1-0) Friday at 3 p.m. and Loyola (2-7-1, 0-2-0) Sunday at 3 p.m.

The Purple Eagles currently are atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings with Fairfield while Rider sits in a three-way tie for eighth and Loyola is in a three-way tie for fourth.

Last year’s MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Matt Stedman (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport), continues to lead Niagara’s offensive attack. The senior tops the team in goals (5) and points (11).

Senior Rafael Venturini (Victoria, Brazil) and sophomore Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) each have two goals for four points while sophomore Stephen Kauble (Canal Winchester, Ohio) has a goal and two assists for four points.

In net, freshman John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) is 3-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the league. He has a 1.21 goals-against average and a .818 save percentage.

Rider is winless in its last six games, including losses in its last four outings. The Broncs are averaging 1.03 goals per game and opponents are scoring 2.41 a game.

Mike Juska leads the team in scoring with four goals and an assist for nine points. Dylan Matlack has two goals and an assist for five points. In goal, Daniel Riverso has a 2.38 goals-against average, .658 save percentage and a 3-6-2 record.

Loyola, which was winless in its first seven games, has rebounded to post victories in two of its last three games. The Greyhounds average 1.07 goals per game, but opponents are still scoring at a 1.76 clip.

Omar Alfonso leads the squad with three goals and three assists for nine points. Jamie Darvill has two goals and Rade Kokovic has a goal and a team-best four assists. Between the posts, Justin Chelland has a 2-4-1 record with a 1.70 goals-against average and .759 save percentage.

Last year, Niagara split the weekend at Rider and Loyola. The Purple Eagles beat the Broncs, 4-2, but lost to the Greyhounds, 2-1. Niagara trails in the Rider all-time series, 5-4-0, and vs. Loyola, 15-1. The last time the Purple Eagles beat the Greyhounds was 1998 at Niagara.