Live Stats

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women’s soccer team opens the 2012 regular season at home with a non-conference game against the Binghamton Bearcats on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.   

The Purple Eagles will look to improve on their second place finish in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) last season, attempting to make their sixth appearance in the conference tournament in eight years.  

How to Catch the Game
Tuesday's contest between the Purple Eagles and the Beartcats can be seen in the Buffalo area courtesy of Lockport Community Television (LCTV).  Purple Eagle fans can also keep up with all the action by accessing the Live Stats link above.  

Scouting the Binghamton Bearcats
Binghamton (1-0; 0-0 AE) will face the Purple Eagles this Tuesday, Aug. 21 after having played Bucknell to a 3-0 victory in its season opener on Aug. 17.  The Bearcats finished last season at 7-10-1 with a 3-4-1 record in the America East.  The Bearcats reached the America East Tournament Semifinals for the fourth time in five years last season and is capable of doing so again in 2012 by bringing back 23 letterwinners.  The team was chosen to finish eighth out of nine teams in the 2012 America East Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll. 

All-Time Against Binghamton
Tuesday’s match-up against the Bearcats with be the fifth time these two teams have met on the field, with Binghamton leading the series 4-1-0.  The last meeting was Sept. 11, 2009 where the Purple Eagles were outdueled by the Bearcats by a 2-0 margin.   

2012 MAAC Preseason Poll
The Niagara women’s soccer team was picked to finish fourth out of 10 teams in the 2012 MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  The Purple Eagles Eagles finished last season second in the conference, which secured a spot for the Purple Eagles in the 2011 MAAC Tournament.

Preseason Honors
Junior forward Breanna Catipovic and senior midfielder Michaela DiFazio were named to the 2012 College Sports Madness MAAC Preseason All-Conference First Team and senior midfielder Julianne Viviano was named to the Second Team, as announced by the members of the association. 

Catipovic, a 2011 All-MAAC First Team selection, appeared in all 19 games for the Purple Eagles last season.  She led the team in the regular season with eight goals, an assist and 17 points.  She topped Niagara with three game-winning goals, including the double overtime tally that pushed the Purple Eagles passed the Temple Owls, 1-0. 
 
DiFazio saw action in all 19 games during the 2011 campaign, netting one goals in 27 shots.  She, along with Viviano, was named to the All-MAAC Second Team.  Viviano contributed a goal and added an assist in 19 games as a junior.    

Tournament Bound
Niagara finished last season at 7-10-2 overall, including a 5-2-2 record in the MAAC, which helped the Purple Eagles clinch the second seed in the MAAC tournament.  Last season’s postseason appearance was the fifth time in seven years. 

Returning to the Mix
The Purple Eagles will return several players from last season, including senior Jamie Raepple.  The forward started every game for the Purple Eagles last season, tallying a goal and two assists.  Offensive standout Breanna Catipovic returns after an impressive season, leading the team in goals (8), points (17) and game winning goals (3).  The junior forward was recognized within the MAAC, earning a spot on the 2011 All-MAAC First Team.  Senior defender Julianne Vivianno, senior midfielder Michaela DiFazio and junior forward Kayla Picanco also earned a spot on the conference’s second team. 

Ten Fresh Faces
Head coach Peter Veltri has added 10 players to the 2016  class.   Youngstown, N.Y. resident, Haley Besaw highlights a freshman class that includes Western New York natives Samantha Gattuso, Kori Thorne, Ashlee Charbonneau, Bianca Marrara, and Jamie Petersen as well as Sonia O'Neill  Sonia O'Neill, Rachel Garvey and goalkeeper Claire Feirertag. 

Welcome to Niagara
Along with the 10 freshmen, four Purple Eagles join the squad as transfer students.  Haillie Price spent her freshmen year at Kent State University.  Sophomores Emily Troup and Jessica Laudico join the Purple Eagle squad after spending two years at Genesee Community College. 

Laudico is a standout midfielder was a Western New York Athletic Conference DIII Women’s Soccer First Team, while Troup joins Niagara’s defense after earning all-region, all-conference and a national championship all-tournament player for the Lady Cougars. 

Goalkeeper Olivia Wood comes to Monteagle Ridge a junior from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff after helping the Golden Lions to their first Western Division Conference Championship 2010.  

Going for Gold
Entering her first season for Niagara is sophomore Haillie Price, a go-to athlete who joins the Purple Eagles after spending a year at Kent State University.  The Ancaster, Ont. native was a member of Canada’s U-17 national squad that captured the gold medal at the 2010 CONCACAF Championships in Costa Rica.    

Youth Movement
Out of the 27 student-athletes that make up the women’s soccer team, 17 are underclassmen, including 10 freshmen.  

Fresh Face on the Sideline
Head coach Peter Veltri has hired assistant coach Ashley Beamish for 2012.  Beamish joins the staff after having graduated from Seton Hall in 2012 with a solid four-year playing career with the Pirates.  She had a career senior season, tied for fourth on the team with two goals and two assists for six points, earning herself a spot on the Capital One Academic All-District II First Team.  The Niagara-Wheatfield High School graduate is also a member of the Sahlens Sports Park/WNY Flash coaching staff, specifically working with the WNY Flash Youth Academy and summer camps.

Coach’s Corner
Head coach Peter Veltri enters his 14th season at the helm of the Purple Eagles program. He has led Niagara to its first MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance while claiming three MAAC Coach of the Year titles.

On the Road Again 
After tonight’s game, Niagara embarks on a four-game road trip, it’s longest of the season, starting with Duquesne on Aug. 31 in Pittsburgh, Pa.  The team begins September with a dual against Buffalo (Sept. 2) before traveling to Ohio to continue non-conference play against Ohio University (Sept. 7) and Youngstown State (Sept. 9).

Check out an interview with head coach Peter Veltri: