Sept. 2 at Florida Atlantic: Live Video | Live Stats
Sept. 4 at Florida International: Live Video | Live Stats

After a commanding victory in the team's season opener at Robert Morris, the Niagara men's soccer team heads to Florida for two matches with Conference USA opponents. The Purple Eagles open the weekend against the Florida Atlantic Owls Friday night at 7:30 p.m. before taking on Florida International Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
 
Last Time Out

• The Purple Eagles opened the 2016 campaign in dominant fashion, defeating the Robert Morris Colonials by a score of 4-0 on Aug. 26.
• It was Niagara's first win in a season opener since 2008, and it marked the first victory for first-year head coach Bill Boyle.
• Niagara seized a three-goal lead in the first 17 minutes. Shiquan Lowe opened the scoring eight minutes into the match, burying a rebound after Hector Solorio Villalpando was denied on a penalty shot.
• Just two minutes later, Mackenzie Roach buried a touch from six yards out off a beautiful feed into the box from Absalom Solorio Villalpando. Absalom then tallied his first goal as a Purple Eagle in the 17th minute.
• Early in the second half, Roach beat the last Colonials defender at midfield, streaked in alone on goal, and flicked a shot over the Robert Morris goalkeeper for his second tally of the afternoon.
• Steve Casey made his first start in goal since Nov. 2014 after redshirting during the 2015 season. He made three saves for the third clean sheet of his Niagara career.

 
Roach Earns MAAC Honors

• With his two goals at Robert Morris, Mackenzie Roach was named the Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week by the MAAC on Aug. 29.
• Roach tallied the first two-goal game for a Purple Eagle since Oct. 24, 2015, when Sergio Lujan struck twice at Monmouth.
• The Marysville, Ont. native leads the MAAC in goals per game and is tied for second in total goals.

 
Across the Pitch: Florida Atlantic Owls (0-2-0)

• Florida Atlantic hosts Niagara in its 2016 home opener on Friday evening.
• This is just the second match between Niagara and Florida Atlantic. The Purple Eagles were victorious in the only other meeting, a 1-0 win on Aug. 30, 2008.
• The Owls dropped each of their first two matches of the season, falling 3-0 at Lipscomb on Aug. 26 and losing a 2-1 overtime match at Belmot on Aug. 28.
• Midfielder Niko Gomez scored the first goal of the season for Florida Atlantic.
• Florida Atlantic ranks first in Conference USA averaging four saves per game.

 
Across the Pitch: Florida International Panthers (1-1-0)

• Florida International hosts the Wisconsin Badgers Friday night before concluding the weekend against the Purple Eagles.
• This will be the first-ever meeting between Niagara and Florida International.
• The Panthers, who opened the season ranked No. 23 in the NCAA, went 1-1 last weekend at the Nike/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Soccer Classic, falling 1-0 to Furman in its first game before securing a 3-1 victory over the College of Charleston.
• Florida International's Santiago Patino is one of four players in Conference USA with two goals in the 2016 season.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for men's soccer updates, follow @NiagaraSoccer. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.