Women's Soccer 8/21/2019 3:00:00 PM

Women’s Soccer Opens 2019 Season Against UMass Lowell

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER
Game 1	UMass Lowell (0-0-0, 0-0-0 America East) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MAAC)
Date \| Time	Thursday, August 22 \| 7 PM
Location	Niagara Field
Live Stats	SIDEARM
Live Video	N iagara Sports Network

The Niagara women's soccer team begins its 2019 campaign at home against the UMass Lowell River Hawks on Thursday evening. The Purple Eagles are looking to build off a strong 2018 season that ended with the team's first MAAC semifinal appearance in four years.

Scene Setter

2019 will be the 37th varsity season for the women's soccer program.
Niagara is in search of its first season-opening victory since 2014.

Kickoff Tidbits

Head coach Peter Veltri enters his 21st season leading the Purple Eagles.
The Purple Eagles were picked sixth in the preseason poll with 69 points, ahead of Fairfield, Manhattan, Canisius, Iona, and Saint Peter's.
Kelsey Araujo and Annie Ibey were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Both players were named to the All-MAAC Second Team in 2018.
Ibey and Ida Micelli were also named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team following stellar debut seasons for the Purple Eagles.
Hadley Bucken was named captain of the squad in May. Bucken played in all 19 games last season (starting in 18) and, along with Hailey Bicknell, Emma Lindke, Selena Mangoni, and Lauren Testa, makes up the senior class.
Six freshmen have joined the program: Megan Couthino, Olivia Hooley, Regan Nugent, Djeynaba Thiam, Florence Vaillancourt, and Grace Wirth.

Across The Pitch

UMass Lowell earned its first trip to the America East tournament in 2018, securing the No. 4 seed for the postseason. In their semifinal match, the River Hawks shut out top-seeded Stony Brook to advance to the championship game, where they were defeated by Albany.
After a 7-9-5 campaign in 2018 with a 4-3-1 league mark, the team was picked fourth in the America East Preseason Poll.
The 2019 River Hawks will have to replace four graduates, including Rachel Morrier, who was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Team after leading the team in minutes, goals, assists and shots.
Mira Novak was officially named the team's head coach after serving as interim head coach in 2018. Novak joined the River Hawks in 2017 as an assistant coach.

Against The River Hawks

Thursday's meeting will be the first-ever matchup between Niagara and UMass Lowell.

Stay connected with Niagara Women's Soccer on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and purpleeagles.com.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Kelsey Araujo: F; 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Hailey Bicknell: F; 5' 0"; Senior

#5 Hadley Bucken: B; 5' 9"; Senior

#18 Annie Ibey: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#29 Emma Lindke: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#15 Selena Mangoni: B; 5' 3"; Senior

#13 Lauren Testa: M/B; 5' 5"; Redshirt Senior

#23 Grace Wirth: B; 5' 5"; Freshman

#11 Florence Vaillancourt: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#22 Djeynaba Thiam: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#9 Kelsey Araujo
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#3 Hailey Bicknell
: 5' 0"; Senior
: F

#5 Hadley Bucken
: 5' 9"; Senior
: B

#18 Annie Ibey
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#29 Emma Lindke
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#15 Selena Mangoni
: 5' 3"; Senior
: B

#13 Lauren Testa
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Senior
: M/B

#23 Grace Wirth
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: B

#11 Florence Vaillancourt
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

#22 Djeynaba Thiam
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F