Live Stats 

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men’s soccer team travels to Dayton, Ohio to play the Wright State Raiders on Friday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. 

This contest marks the end of a three-game road trip where the Purple Eagles look to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games after two double-overtime draws in the Smith Barney Classic last weekend. 

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Live Stats for Friday’s game against Wright State will be available. To access live stats, please click on the link above. 

Purple Eagles 101
The last time Niagara (3-0-3) went on a six-game unbeaten streak was last season, when the squad went on a 5-0-1 run.  This season NU is led by sophomore forward Callum Willmott in goals (3) and points (6).  Seniors Bryan Da Cruz and Rene De Zorzi each have two tallies on the season, including a penalty-kick score each. 

The underclassmen have been productive for the Purple Eagles thus far, in freshman Julian Ekeze (1-0-2) and sophomores Jacob Ohlin (1-1-3) and Michael Hanton (1-0-2). 

Goalkeeper Brett Petricek has played every minute for Niagara, making 36 saves in six games for a .878 save percentage.  He has two shutouts on the season, both earned this past weekend.

Scouting Wright State
Wright State welcomes Niagara to Alumni Field with a 2-4 record, coming off a 3-0 win over IUPUI.  The Raiders are led by midfielder Derek Zuniga who has netted two goals and added three assists for seven points in six games.  Sophomores Emeka Ononye and Albert Nilsson each have four points on the season. 

Junior goalkeeper Jacob Bye has played the majority of minutes for the Raiders.  In five games, he has earned a 2-3-0 record, making 28 saves for a .848 save percentage and has a 0.97 goals-against average. 

All-Time Against the Raiders
This will mark only the second time the Purple Eagles and Raiders have met on the field.  Their first meeting dates back in 1997 where Wright State came out with a 2-1 victory in the Cleveland State All-Crane Rental Classic held in Cleveland, Ohio. 

NSCAA Ranking
For the third straight week, the Purple Eagles have been ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).  In the opening week of the season, Niagara was placed in the fifth spot of the NSCAA North Atlantic poll before moving up to second place during the week of Sept. 4.  This week, the team is ranked third, under Monmouth who stands at number one and Canisius who is second.

Seeing Double
Niagara has taken part in three double-overtime games so far this season, all ending in a draw.  Last season the team played in four double-overtime contests, in addition to a single overtime game. 

The Purple Eagles started off the season with a 1-1 draw to Pittsburgh, before earning two hard-fought scoreless ties in the Smith Barney Classic against New Hampshire and Vermont.   

Shutting Out the Cats
Niagara heads into this weekend’s play after going 0-0-2 in the Smith Barney Classic in Burlington, Vt.  The Purple Eagles played to a scoreless draw against the New Hampshire Wildcats on Friday before battling the host Vermont Catamounts to a 0-0 tie on Sunday. 

Senior Bryan Da Cruz led the team with six shots over two games, with midfielder Jacob Ohlin adding four shots of his own. 
Keeper Brett Petricek, senior defender Rene De Zorzi and Ohlin secured a spot on the all-tournament team. 

Conference Honors
Senior goalkeeper Brett Petricek was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Week after earning his first two shutouts of the 2012 campaign against New Hampshire and Vermont.  The Woodbridge, Ill. native made a season-high eight saves against the Wildcats, while stopping all five Catamount shots.

Next Up
After Friday’s contest, the Purple Eagles return to Monteagle Ridge the following Friday for a non-conference match-up against St. Francis (Pa.) at 7 p.m.  NU then heads to St. Bonaventure on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest against the Bonnies.