Lipscomb: Live Stats | Belmont: Live Stats | Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara men's soccer team kicks off the 2017 campaign this weekend, heading to Nashville to take part in the Lipscomb/Belmont Challenge. The opening weekend marks Niagara's first-ever matchups against the Lipscomb Bisons and Belmont Bruins.
 
Niagara's season opener comes against Lipscomb on Friday, Aug. 25 with an 8 p.m. opening kick. The weekend wraps up with a 2 p.m. contest against Belmont on Sunday, Aug. 27.
 
2016 In Review

• In the Purple Eagles' first season under head coach Bill Boyle, the team finished eighth in the MAAC with a record of 4-11-2 (3-6-1 MAAC).
• Niagara opened the season with a 4-0 win at Robert Morris. Mackenzie Roach led the way with two goals and Steve Casey made three saves in the shutout
• The Purple Eagles' conference schedule was punctuated by an overtime road victory over eventual regular-season champion Quinnipiac, with Casey making five saves and Bautista Pedezert scoring the golden goal in the 96th minute.
• Roach was named to the 2016 MAAC All-Rookie Team after leading the Purple Eagles in scoring with seven points.

 
Across the Pitch: Niagara Purple Eagles

• Redshirt-junior Casey and senior Joel Gerberich will provide veteran leadership in goal for the 2017 season.
• Casey recorded a 4-10-2 record in 2016 with a 1.31 goals-against average and .744 save percentage.
• Casey tied for third in a single season with five shutouts in 2016, and he is tied for fourth all-time at Niagara with seven career clean sheets. He enters 2017 with an active shutout streak of 224:04 after closing last season with shutouts against Manhattan and Canisius.
• Roach led Niagara in scoring during his freshman season, tallying two goals and three assists. Roach capped his first year at Niagara with MAAC All-Rookie Team honors.
• Junior midfielder Pedezert returns after leading Niagara with 19 shots a year ago.
• Konrad Zydowicz and Borna Juracic lead a deep group on the back line for the Purple Eagles.
• The Purple Eagles welcome 14 newcomers to the squad: Jordan Acevedo, Brian Barry, Ben Christidis, Nicky Dhanjal, Sebastian Diaz, Mick Keilen, Matthew Krucko-Moeller, Rhys Lanskail, Matt Lopoyda, Andrew McDonagh, Andres Munoz, Luca Pacheco, Danilo Pekovic and Kyle Walters.

 
Across the Pitch: Lipscomb Bisons

• Lipscomb finished the 2016 season with a 10-6-2 record and outshot its opponents 237-168.
• The Bisons return their top scorer, forward Logan Paynter, who had 11 goals in 2016.
• The Bisons played two exhibitions in anticipation of the season, falling to Louisville, 1-0, and defeating Cincinnati, 3-1.

 
Across the Pitch: Belmont Bruins

• The Bruins finished 2016 with a record of 3-12-3.
• Belmont graduated all its top scorers and goalkeepers in 2016. The Bruinss are a young team, with 14 freshmen on the 2017 roster.  
• The Bruins played three exhibition matches in the preseason, defeating Faulkner, 5-2, tying with Mercer, 1-1, and falling to Missouri State, 3-1.
• Belmont, a member of the Horizon League, was selected to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the preseason coaches' poll.

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles will participate in the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic Presented by Morgan Stanley Sept. 1-3. Niagara takes on Central Connecticut State at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1 and faces Vermont on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2:00 p.m.

 
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.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.