NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After sporting a 4-3-0 non-conference record, the Niagara University women’s soccer team opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend when it hosts Saint Peter’s College (2-7-0) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and Manhattan College (7-2-0) Sunday at noon.

For the first time in the last five years, the Purple Eagles will not be playing Little Three rival Canisius College in their conference opener. Niagara is 4-1 in league openers the last five years and last lost in 2001, 1-0 at Canisius.

Junior Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.) and sophomore Stephanie Gartley (Sarnia, Ont.) are the one-two attack for the Purple Eagles. Bisnott has a team-best seven goals for 14 points and Gartley, who is this week’s MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, has five goals and four assists for 14 points. Both are ranked ninth in the NCAA in points per game, and Bisnott leads the NCAA in goals per game.

Junior Natalie Frost (Elmira, N.Y.) tops the squad with five assists for five points and is tied with Gartley for 26th in the NCAA in assists per game.

In net, freshman Sarah Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) has started all seven games has a 2.12 goals-against average, .722 save percentage and 4-3-0 record.

Saint Peter’s enters Friday’s game on a winning note after snapping a three-game losing streak with a win over Wagner on Sept. 24. The Peahens averaged just 0.3 goals per game and have been out-scored 31-3 so far this season.

Krissy Killbride leads the team with two goals for four points and Kyle Marsh has Saint Peter’s other goal.

In net, Jilian Fueshko has started six games and has a 3.22 goals-against average, .722 save percentage and 1-3 record.

After winning its first six games, Manhattan enters the weekend having lost two of its last three games. The Jaspers average an impressive 2.37 goals per game and have out-shot their opponents 133-85.

Kathleen Kuntz leads the team with 15 points, including a team-leading seven goals. Christine Reina and Amanda Fischer each have 10 points.

In goal, Alicia DeFino has started seven of nine games and sports a 0.91 goals-against average, .800 save percentage and 4-2 record.

Niagara leads the all-time series with Saint Peter’s, 8-5-0, and with Manhattan, 7-4-3. Last year, the Purple Eagles beat the Peahens, 1-0, in the regular-season finale, and won in overtime, 2-1, vs. the Jaspers.