PURPLE EAGLES WOMEN'S SOCCER
Game 17	No. 6 Niagara Purple Eagles (8-7-2, 4-5-1 MAAC) vs. No. 3 Rider Broncs (8-5-4, 5-3-2)
Date	Sunday, November 3 | 4:00 PM
Location	Ben Cohen Field – Lawrenceville, N.J.
Live Stats	GoBroncs.Com
Live Video	ESPN+
Twitter	@NiagaraWSOC
Instagram	@NiagaraWSOC

 
The Niagara Purple Eagles begin their quest for a MAAC title on Sunday when they visit the Rider Broncs in the 2019 MAAC Championship First Round at 4 p.m.

Scene Setter

• Niagara and Rider will meet in the MAAC Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons, including the second straight season.
• The Purple Eagles are 12-9-2 in the last 23 meetings with the Broncs.
• Niagara will be in search of its first win at Rider since 2008.
• In their first meeting this season, Niagara lost to opportunistic Rider Broncs squad, 5-0. NU had the better play through the first 25 minutes, but the Broncs bagged two goals in an eight-minute span late in the first half to seize control. Rider added two goals in a two-minute span early in the second half to the seal the contest as the Purple Eagles were held to few scoring chances for the rest of the game.

Kickoff Tidbits

• The Purple Eagle have outscored their last two opponents, 7-1, on their way to two wins to close out the regular season.
• Sabrina Locas has been named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season.
• Annie Ibey leads the MAAC in shots (60) and shots per game (3.53). Her team-leading six goals are tied for eighth in the league.
• Kelsey Araujo's three goals on the season have all been game winners, which is tied for second in the MAAC.
• Hailey Bicknell is tied for fifth in assists per game (.29).

 
Purple Eagles In The MAAC Tournament

• The Purple Eagles are 8-11-2 in the MAAC Tournament since 1999.
• Niagara has won the MAAC Tournament once in program history, claiming the title in 2006. The Purple Eagles have made the final on three other occasions (2003, 2005, 2009).
• Niagara's 2-1 win over Rider last season was NU's first win in regulation in the MAAC Tournament since 2014. 

Across The Pitch
Rider Broncs (8-5-4, 5-3-2 MAAC)

• Rider enters the MAAC Tournament on a two-game skid.
• Hailey Russel leads the Broncs in goals (6) and in points (14). Sofia Soares and Makenzie Rodrigues are tied for second on the team in goals with four.
• Carmen Carbonell has played in all 17 games and has a 1.28 GAA.
• The Broncs lead the MAAC in assists per game (1.5).