NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After a six-game road swing to open the 2006 season, the Niagara University men’s soccer team (2-4-0) finally makes its home debut when it hosts Duquesne University (3-3-1) Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Niagara Field.

The Purple Eagles enter the game on a winning note after beating Little Three rival St. Bonaventure, 3-1, Wednesday. Seniors Kwame Oduro (Toronto, Ont.) and Rafael Venturini (Victoria, Brazil), and sophomore Stephen Kauble (Canal Winchester, Ohio) each scored their first goals of the season in the victory.

Senior and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week Matt Stedman (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) still leads the squad with four goals and an assist for nine points. Kauble is second on the team in points with a goal and team-best two assists. In addition to Oduro and Venturini, freshman Michael Malone (Rochester, N.Y.) and sophomore Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) have goals for the Purple Eagles.

In net, senior James McKenna (Pittsford, N.Y.) has a 1-1 record, 2.40 goals-against average and .600 save percentage. Freshman John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) is 1-2 with a 1.92 GAA and .722 save percentage.

Duquesne, which plays at Buffalo Friday, enters the weekend on a two-game losing streak after scoring just a goal in the Penn State Tournament last weekend. The Dukes are averaging 1.49 goals per game this season.

Travis MacKenzie leads the team in scoring with three goals and three assists for nine points. Brian Bartek and Alex Trujillo each have two goals.

In net, Zach Varga has started six of seven games and has a 1.51 goals-against average, .645 save percentage and two shutouts.

In a relatively young series, Duquesne leads 2-0, but the teams have not meet since the Dukes beat the Purple Eagles, 8-1 in Pittsburgh on Sept. 21, 1995.