Ashley Mandrino will help anchor a solid defense this season for the Purple Eagles.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – With some very talented student-athletes coming back and high expectations already in place, the Niagara University women’s soccer team gets its 2006 season going by hosting area rival Buffalo Friday at 3 p.m. at Niagara Field. The match signifies the first home event of the 2006-07 athletic campaign on Monteagle Ridge.

In the previous four campaigns, Niagara has been perfect when it comes to kicking off a new season. The Purple and White have won four-straight season opening matches, with its last loss occurring at Buffalo in 2001, while it also has won four-straight home openers after falling to Charleston Southern in 2001.

Posting a 16-3-2 overall record in 2005, Niagara set a program record for victories in a season, while also going a record 8-0-0 on the road and 8-1-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. Head coach Peter Veltri was named MAAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, while sophomore Stephanie Gartley (Sarnia, Ont.) was selected as the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Gartley led the Purple Eagles and the entire conference in goals (17), points (41) and game-winners (five).

Also returning for the Purple and White is junior Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.), who ranks sixth in Niagara history with 64 points (28-8--64), while senior Emily Montgomery (Oshawa, Ont.) is tied for sixth in assists with 16 and eighth in overall points with 44 (14-16--44). Along with Gartley, they were all named 2005 First Team All-MAAC members.

In all, Niagara welcomes back 10 of its top 11 scorers from a year ago. However, it did lose goalkeeper Katy Owings (Annapolis, Md.) and will look to sophomore Jamie Giangreco (Penfield, N.Y.) and freshman Sarah Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) throughout the season to take Owings’ place. Giangreco saw time in four matches in her first year with the Purple Eagles, making one save in 27:05 of work.

Buffalo posted a 5-11-2 record last season, and also lost its No. 1 keeper in Anna-Lesa Calvert. The Bulls also lost their top scorer in Natalia Crofut, who had three goals and two assists for eight points. Buffalo was shut out 10 times in 2005 and collected at least two goals in a match on four occasions.

The Purple Eagles edged the Bulls in last year’s meeting, 1-0, when Bisnott scored with just over three minutes remaining on Buffalo’s home field. Both goalkeepers shined as Owings made 14 saves and Calvert recorded 11.