PURPLE EAGLES WOMEN'S SOCCER
Game 16	No. 6 Niagara Purple Eagles (9-7-2, 4-5-1 MAAC) vs. No.1 Monmouth Hawks (12-2-2, 10-0-0 MAAC)
Date	Thursday, November 7 | 5:00 PM
Location	Hesee Field | West Long Branch, NJ
Live Stats	MonmouthHawks.com
Live Video	ESPN+
Twitter	@NiagaraWSOC
Instagram	@NiagaraWSOC

After defeating Rider in the first round, the Purple Eagles will take on No. 1 seed Monmouth Hawks in the 2019 MAAC Championship Semifinals on Thursday, November 7 at 5 p.m.

Scene Setter

• The Purple Eagles topped the third-seeded Rider Broncs, 2-1, in the first round on November 3 to setup Thursday's encounter with the Hawks.
• Niagara has won its last three games while outscoring its opponents 9-2. Niagara's three-game win streak is tied for its longest of the season.    
• Niagara and Monmouth will meet in the MAAC Tournament for the third straight season and the second straight semifinals. The Hawks won 3-0 last season on their way to their third straight conference title. In 2017, Monmouth edged Niagara 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
• A victory on Thursday would send the Purple Eagles to their first MAAC Championship Final since 2009.

 
Kickoff Tidbits

• Kelsey Araujo bagged a brace in Niagara's 2-1 win over Rider in the first round. Her season-high two goals moved her into a tie with Annie Ibey for the team lead in goals (6). Araujo's four game-winning goals are tied for league high marks.
• Annie Ibey leads the MAAC in shots (61) and shots per game (3.3). She is seventh in the MAAC in total points (16).
• Hailey Bicknell is fifth in the conference in assists (5).

 
 Purple Eagles In The MAAC Tournament

• The Purple Eagles are 9-11-2 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).

Across the Pitch
Monmouth Hawks (12-2-2, 10-0-0 MAAC)

• Monmouth boasts the conference's offensive player of the year (Lexie Palladino), defensive player of the year (Anna Lazur), and goalkeeper of the year (Amanda Knaub).
• Seven Hawks were named to the All-MAAC First Team, three on the second team, and two on the all-rookie team.
• The Hawks went through their MAAC schedule with a perfect 10-0-0 record.
• Monmouth has won 11 straight games, including a 4-0 drubbing of No. 25 Texas on September 15.
• The Hawks have outscored their last seven opponents, 23-0.