Friday vs Syracuse: Live Stats
Sunday vs Colgate: Live Stats | Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV, NY – The Niagara men's soccer team starts the 2014 season with a pair of games in the Central New York Classic against co-hosts Syracuse and Colgate.
 
The weekend gets underway with a 2:00 p.m. match against the Orange on Friday followed by another 2:00 p.m. match on Sunday against the Raiders.
 
Where to Watch

• Live Stats and live video can be accessed through the links above and on the schedule page. 

And We're Back

• The Purple Eagles return 15 players from last year's squad, including an all-senior backline of Roberto Fernandez-Andersson, Michael Hanton, and Kyle Moraldo.
• The team added 11 new players featuring three transfers (Andrew Ferguson, Fabrizio Chiari, and Reynold Manu) and eight true-freshmen.
• Callum Willmott will lead the attack as a striker and will look to get back to the 19-point performance he had as a sophomore before seeing his output drop while playing injured all season in 2013.
• Willmott has already earned honors this year as he was named to CollegeSportsMadness.com's 2014 Preseason First Team All-MAAC. Sophomore Nicholas Watson was named to the CSM Preseason Second Team All-MAAC.
• A win on Friday would be the Purple Eagles' first opening day win since a 4-3 decision against Longwood in 2008. That game was also the first of a two-day tournament. The 2012 season started with a 1-1 draw that was followed by a three-game winning streak. 

Scouting Syracuse

• Niagara is 4-12-0 all-time against Syracuse.  The last time these clubs faced each other was on Aug. 31, 2012 when Willmott scored both goals in the 2-1 Purple Eagles' victory.
• The Orange return all 12 starters from the 2013 season in which they finished 10-7-1 with a 7-3-1 record at home.
• Emil Ekblom led the team with 23 points (10 goals, nine assist) in 2013 as a freshman.
• Alex Bono returns in goal for the Orange. The junior posted 55 saves for a 1.03 GAA as a sophomore.

 
Getting to Know Colgate

• Niagara is 1-8-1 all-time against Colgate. Sunday will be the first time these teams go head-to-head since the 2005 season when the Purple Eagles took a 2-1 win in Hamilton, N.Y.
• The Raiders finished the 2013 season with 4-14-2 that included a 1-9-1 non-conference record.
• During the 2013 season, three players were tied for the team lead with six points. Two of them, Zach Pagani (F) and Ethan Kutler (M) return for 2014. Geinda Smith (F) finished the season with five points and returns as a sophomore.
• Ricky Brown returns in goal and posted a 1.52 GAA in 13 starts as a freshman in 2013.