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The Purple Eagles men's soccer team is unbeaten in its last two games, having defeated the Saint Peter's Peacocks 2-0 at Niagara Field last Saturday before Wednesday's scoreless draw on the road at Siena. Niagara starts a two-game home stand on Saturday with perhaps its toughest test of the season, hosting the Rider Broncs at 12 p.m. Rider leads the MAAC with a 4-0 record in conference play (9-2-0 overall) and is ranked No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll and No. 30 in the College Soccer News National Poll.

Purple Points

• Niagara was unable to find the back of the net on 11 shots in a 0-0 tie at Siena to start this week on Oct. 11.
• The Purple Eagles put four shots on goal while allowing nine against. Goalkeeper Steve Casey turned all nine way, giving him an active shutout streak of 201:11 entering Saturday's match at Niagara Field.
• Luca Pacheco scored both goals for Niagara in a 2-0 win over Saint Peter's on Oct. 7, finding the back of the net once in each half.
• It was the second two-goal game for a Purple Eagle this season, after Asante Carroll netted a pair of second-half goals to give Niagara a 2-1, come-from-behind win over Robert Morris for the team's first win of the season on Sept. 8.
• Casey made 21 saves in two games last week, tying his career-high with 11 in a 5-0 loss at Canisius before making 10 in the shutout victory over Saint Peter's. His nine saves in the tie at Siena give him an average of 10 saves per game in his last three starts.
• Casey's 10 saves in the win over Saint Peter's were his most in a shutout in his Niagara career. The Buffalo native is currently tied for third all-time at Niagara with nine shutouts, matching the career mark set by Guillermo Rodriguez.
• As a team, Niagara leads the MAAC and ranks THIRD in the NCAA with 6.08 saves per game. Casey is SECOND in the NCAA and leads the MAAC with 6.38 saves per game and is second in the conference overall with 51 saves.

Pacheco Earns Weekly Honors

• Luca Pacheco was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Oct. 9 for his efforts in the win over Saint Peter's, the first weekly award for a Purple Eagle this season.
• Pacheco tracked a long pass from Bautista Pedezert and flicked a shot over the keeper to open the scoring in the 21st minute. He later ripped a 25-yard free kick into the top right corner to double Niagara's lead in the 58th minute.
• Pacheco's two goals are tied for the Niagara team lead with Asante Carroll and Zulfikar Karimi.

Across the Pitch
No. 25 Rider Broncs (9-2-0, 4-0-0 MAAC) 

• Rider leads the MAAC with a perfect record in conference play, having retained the league lead after Wednesday's 1-0 double-overtime victory over second-place Manhattan.
• Niagara is 7-10-3 all-time against Rider, with the Purple Eagles' last win over Broncs coming on home field, a 2-0 win on Oct. 23, 2013.
• The Broncs have won their last five matches, with their last loss coming at home on Sept. 13 against Villanova.
• Rider leads the MAAC in scoring defense (0.87 goals-against average) and is second in the conference in scoring offense (1.91 goals per game).
• Elliot Otmani leads Rider with seven goals and 15 points, while Clement Bourret has a team-high eight assists.
• David Pastuna is 9-2 between the pipes with a 0.87 goals-against average, .778 save percentage, and four shutouts.

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