LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. - The No. 6 Niagara women's soccer team (9-9-1, 4-5-0 MAAC) held on to an early lead, which was enough to defeat the No. 3 Fairfield Stags (9-9-3, 4-2-3 MAAC) 2-1 in the MAAC quarterfinals at the Walt Disney Wide World of Sports Complex on Friday morning.

“We played an excellent first half of the game,” Niagara head coach Peter Veltri said. “We did all the little things that we need to do in order to be successful. We played very aggressive, we moved the ball well and we capitalized on opportunities when we had chances.”

Niagara struck first in the 26th minute, when freshman Jamie Raepple (Grand Island, N.Y.) sent a nice feed over to senior Chiara Greco (Hamilton, Ont.), who ripped a shot that rolled off the fingertips of Stags goalkeeper Kelly Boudreau and into the net. The Purps would take a 2-0 lead five minutes later, when senior defender Ashley Mandrino (Farmington, N.Y.) took a shot that just got under the crossbar.

Things would get interesting in the second half, as Fairfield would sneak one past junior netminder Ashleigh Bowers (Liverpool, N.Y.) to come within one with under 10 minutes in regulation. Niagara would control the remainder of the game, which earned them a berth into the MAAC semifinals. Bowers made four saves in earning the victory for the Purple Eagles.

Niagara will take on No. 7 Marist in the semifinals of the 2009 MAAC Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. The Purple Eagles defeated the Red Foxes 1-0, back on Oct. 18. No. 1 Loyola, which advanced in a penalty kick shootout, will take on No. 5 Canisius on Sunday in the other semifinal.