Live Stats – Friday  ¦  Live Video – Friday  ¦  Live Stats – Sunday  ¦  Live Video – Sunday

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The 2012 defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions will begin the year with a pair of non-conference matchups beginning with Vermont on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.  The Purple Eagle will then host St. Bonaventure on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m.  Both contests will be played at Niagara Field.

How to Catch the Game
Live Stats and video for Friday's evening game against Vermont and Sunday's afternoon game against St. Bonaventure will be available.  To access live stats or live video, please click on the appropriate link above. 

Before Kickoff
Along with 14 newcomers this season, the squad welcomes back 12 returning players, including junior Callum Willmott who led the team with 19 points last season with eight goals and three assists en route to being named to the All-MAAC Second Team.  Also returning to the mix is senior forward Ken Cooper (2-2-6) and junior defender Roberto Fernandez-Andersson (2-0-4).

The Purple Eagles have four goalkeepers vying for the starting position in freshmen Brenden Ottman  and Spencer Semple,  sophomore transfer William Banahene and junior transfer Eleftherios Lazaridis .

2012 In Review
Niagara wrapped up the 2012 campaign with a 13-2-4 overall record, and 5-1-1 mark in league play, both program bests.  The season opening 12-game unbeaten streak was en route to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Purple Eagles were ranked in the NSCAA Division I North Atlantic Poll for 12-straight weeks, including taking over the top spot for eight consecutive weeks.

The historic season saw Niagara garner MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors and MAAC Defensive Player of the Year in Brett Petricek and Rene De Zorzi, respectively.  Former head coach Chase Brooks was tabbed as the 2012 NSCA North Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

Scouting Vermont
The Catamounts are coming off one of their best campaigns in which they won the America East regular season title with a 5-0-2 record, and achieved an 8-5-5 overall mark. 

Vermont lost their top five scorers at the end of the 2012 season, but return senior defenseman Scott Kisling who earned a spot on the all-conference second team and Charlie DeFeo who notched four points off a pair of goals. 

Goalkeeping duties will likely be given to Conor Leland who earned America East Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team honors after leading the conference in goals-against average (0.81), save percentage (.841) and shutouts (6). 

All-Time Against the Catamounts
Niagara played Vermont for the first time in program history last season while taking part the Smith Barney Classic on Sept. 9 where the teams battled to a scoreless tie after 110 minutes of play.

Scouting St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure will bring back its top six scorers from the 2012 season including senior Brad Vanino who led the team with 16 points (6-4-16).  Joining Vanino will be Emmett O'Connor and James Reed who each scored three goals to add to their 12 and eight points, respectively.

Bobby Diaz is the only returning goalkeeper for the Bonnies.  The junior played in five games last season making 11 saves for a .440 save percentage and a 3.99 goals-against average.

All-Time Against the Little 3 Rival
Despite the Bonnies holding the upper hand in the all-time series against the Purps, going 28-15-3 in 45 contests, Niagara has secured a win in the previous two meetings which includes a 3-2 victory during last season's match. 

2013 MAAC Preseason Poll & Honors
Fernandez-Andersson was selected as the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and was joined by Willmott on the Preseason All-MAAC Team. 
As a squad Niagara was slated in the fourth spot of the 2013 MAAC standings in in the annual preseason poll.  The Purps garnered 78 points while first-year MAAC contender Monmouth University was the favorite to capture the title with 11 points with Iona (110) and Fairfield (97) rounding out the top three.

Looking Ahead 
Niagara continues it three-game homestand with a bout against UMass-Lowell on Sept. 6 before heading out on a four-game stint on the road, its longest of the season.  The roadtrip begins at the Akron Tournament in Akron, Ohio where the Purps will battle San Diego State (Sept. 13) and VCU (Sept. 15).