RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The men's soccer team (11-4-3, 5-2-1 MAAC) advanced to next weekend's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament with a 0-0 tie with Manhattan (3-13-2; 1-5-2 MAAC) on Friday.

The stalemate gives Niagara 16 points in the conference standings, assuring them of no worse than fourth place going into Sunday's regular season finale at Saint Peter's.

"Manhattan played very well today," head coach Dermot McGrane said. "They didn't allow us to get into our rhythm of play. One positive out of the game is that we are definitely in the MAAC Tournament."

Both teams had their chances in the first half, with Niagara outshooting the host Jaspers by a 9-8 margin. The Purple Eagles made Jasper goalkeeper John Ciano made three key saves in the first half which halted the Niagara attack.

Niagara mounted the attack well in the second half, but couldn't put the ball into the back of the net. The Jaspers outshot the Purple Eagles 8-6 in the second frame.

John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) made seven saves in 110 minutes for his fifth shutout of the season, with three of his saves coming in clutch situations in the second overtime period.

The Purple Eagles conclude one of its most successful regular-seasons in team history on Sunday, as they take on Saint Peter's at 1 p.m.