Live Stats    |     Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The third-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles will play No. 2 seed Siena in the 2012 MAAC Tournament Semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. from Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field. 
 
Tune into the Game
Live stats for Thursday’s semifinal game against Siena will be available.  Video will also be provided on MAAC.TV.  To access live stats or live video, please click on the appropriate link above.
 
Purple Eagles 101
Niagara heads into the MAAC Tournament with an 11-1-4 overall record, and a 5-1-1 conference mark earning the team a third-place seed.  The pair of victories over Fairfield and Iona two weekends ago secured the team’s spot in the MAAC Championship.
 
The team has received offensive contributions from all across the roster this season as 16 Purple Eagles have earned at least one point during play.  Callum Willmott has been hot on the score sheet as of late, totaling eight goals and two helpers for a team-leading 18 points.  Bryan Da Cruz and Rene De Zorzi are deadlocked with four goals each. 
 
The Cooper brothers, Ken Cooper and Darren Cooper, each have six points with two goals and two assists, while Michael Hanton has also contributed a pair of goals so far this season.
 
Brett Petricek has been the go-to goalkeeper for NU, as the senior has played in all 16 games thus far.  He has made 77 saves for a 0.76 goals-against average and a .856 save percentage, while adding six shutouts to his name. 

NSCAA Division I Men’s North Atlantic Poll 
For the seventh-straight week, the Niagara men’s soccer squad has been slated in the top spot in the North Atlantic by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).  This is the team’s best ranking in the NSCAA North Atlantic poll, and its eleventh-straight week being ranked in the poll. 

National Recognition
For the seventh time this season, the Purple Eagles received recognition in the NSCAA/Continental Tire National Rankings after garnering 17 total votes in the most recent poll.  The Purps received the most votes they have in their program history three weeks prior when they collected 30. 
 
Lucky Number Seven
This tournament trip marks the program’s seventh MAAC Tournament appearance for the Purple Eagles in eight years.
 
MAAC Tournament History
The Purple Eagles have made one appearance in the MAAC Tournament finals dating back to 2009 when Niagara defeated the top-seeded Iona Gaels in the semifinals.  After playing 110 minutes of soccer to a 1-1 tie, the Purps won the contest in penalty kicks.  Niagara would be denied its first-ever MAAC Championship after falling to number two seed Loyola, 1-0, in double-overtime. 
 
This will be the first time the Purple Eagles will meet the Saints in post-season play. 

Best Start
The Purple Eagles had their best start in program history this year, going 12 games without a loss on the score sheet.  After earning the victory over Canisius on Oct. 13, NU tied the program-best 12-game unbeaten streak that was accomplished during the 2006 season when the Purple Eagles went 5-0-7 midway through the season. It was a 1-0 loss to the Siena Saints on Oct. 19 that cut the team’s streak short. 
 
Scouting the Saints
Siena wrapped up the season with a 10-6-0 record, and a 6-1-0 conference mark to earn the second seed.  The team is on a three-game win streak, grabbing victories over NU, Canisius and Marist to finish the regular season. 
 
The Saints are led by forward Sindre Ek who has 12 goals and five assists for 29 points.  Senior midfielder Daniel Alderstad is second on the team in points (11) with three goals and five helpers.    
Damian Liesemann will likely start in goal for Siena, as the sophomore has made 40 saves for a 1.32 goals-against average and a .678 save percentage. 
 
We Meet Again
Niagara and Siena played each other on Oct. 19 in Loudonville, N.Y., and the contest ended with the Saints handing the Purple Eagles their first loss of the season.
 
Daniel Alderstad’s goal in the 42nd minute of the opening half was enough to give the Saints the 1-0 victory, snapping NU’s 12 game unbeaten streak. 
 
Niagara outshot Siena 15-8, including 12-1 in the second 45 minutes of play.  

Last Time Out    
The Purple Eagles wrapped up play at Niagara Field with two solid victories over conference opponents that earned them a spot in the MAAC tournament. 
 
On Friday, Niagara played Fairfield into extra time before Da Cruz netted the game-winning tally just three minutes in. Micah Paulino and Willmott earned an assist on the goal.
 
In the team’s matchup against Iona on Sunday, Darren Cooper netted the only goal of the contest, giving NU the 1-0 victory over the Gaels.  De Zorzi contributed the lone helper, to add to his career-high of four assists on the season.
 
Offensive Defender
Along with his solid play in the defensive third, De Zorzi is having a career-offensive season as the defender has totaled a career-high four goals and four assists for 12 points.  The senior has contributed one game winner as well as a pair of penalty kick markers. 
 
Between the Posts
Petricek has been solid between the posts for the Purple Eagles, making a total of 77 saves for a 0.761 goals-against average and a .856 save percentage.  He has six shutouts to his name, earning him MAAC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season.  The Woodbridge, Ill. native is ranked sixth in the nation in save percentage and is slated in the 21st position in goals-against average.