Wednesday - Live Stats / Live Video
Saturday - Live Stats / Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women's soccer team concludes the 2013 regular season this week with a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games against Rider on Wednesday, Oct. 23 and Iona on Saturday, Oct. 26. 

Wednesday's game will take place at Ben Cohen Field in Lawrenceville, N.J. for a 4 p.m. kick off, while Saturday's game will be played at Niagara Field at 2 p.m. 

The team's final home game against the Gaels will serve as Senior Day where a pair of NU seniors, Kayla Picanco and Breanna Catipovic  will be acknowledged prior to the game for their contributions to the women's soccer program.

Catch All the Action
Live stats will be available for Wednesday's game vs. Rider, and if you can't make it to Saturday's contest, live stats and live video can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate link above. 

Purple Eagles 101
Niagara is holding onto the seventh spot in MAAC standings with Quinnipiac and Manhattan.  All three teams have pocketed seven points on the season with NU holding a 3-4-1 league record, and a 4-11-1 overall mark.  The Purple Eagles are looking to end the regular season with a win, after going 0-2-1 in their previous three games.  Most recently, NU was handed a 4-0 blanking by Fairfield. 

Two or more points have been registered by nine Purple Eagles in 16 games.  Catipovic continues to lead the squad with seven goals, one shy of tying her career record, while Catherine Meyer (1-4-6) and Haillie Price (2-1-5) have also delivered offensively. 

Goalkeeper Claire Feiertag will go into the week's play with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .763 save percentage off 74 saves.  She also has a shutout to her name.

Scouting the Broncs
The Broncs will welcome Niagara to their home turf with a 7-7 overall record, and a 4-4 league mark.  Rider recently played Manhattan to a 2-1 double overtime victory to seat themselves in sixth place in the MAAC, one point behind Siena for fifth. 

The team is led offensively by Jennifer Meier who is second in the MAAC with 22 points off nine goals and four assists.  Michelle Iacono and Hollie Kelsh have combined for five goals and seven assists.

Goaltending duties have been split between Venessa Perdomo and Bethany-May Howard.  Perdomo has made 39 saves and allowed six goals for a .867 save percentage and a 0.84 goals-against average, while Howard holds a .630 save percentage and a 2.43 GAA. 

All-Time vs. Rider
Niagara holds a 10-6-1 advantage over Rider in the all-time series which dates back Oct. 11, 1997.  The last time these two squads met was Oct. 21, 2012 where the Broncs came out with a 3-2 win.

Taking a Look at Iona
Heading into the final week of regular season play, the Gaels sit in fourth place in the conference with a 4-2-2 MAAC mark and a 5-7-4 overall record.  Iona will play Marist on Wednesday, before coming to Niagara Field on Saturday.

Ten Gaels have secured at least one point this season, with Nicole Paulucci leading the team with seven points off three goals and an assist.  Safi Ayinde is not far behind with six points (2 goals; 2 assists), while Sofia Sanchez has score a goal of her own and added two assists for four points.

Trista Rivera has been the go-to goalkeeper for Iona.  In 1456 minutes of play, the senior has made 83 saves for a .814 save percentage and a 1.17 goals-against average.

The Purple Eagles vs. the Gaels
Niagara and Iona have been meeting up since 1989, with the last contest coming last season on Oct. 7, 2012 in a 2-1 victory going to the Gaels.  The Purple and White are now 14-8-1 against Iona.

Up Next for NU
Niagara will begin postseason play on Thursday, Oct. 31 in the opening round of the 2013 MAAC Championships to be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  The Purple Eagle's opponent and time of kick off will be determined after this week's play.