After winning their season opener for the first time since 2014, the Purple Eagles will play a pair of road games this week. Niagara opens its road schedule against Akron on August 29 at 7 p.m., followed by a tilt at Robert Morris on August 31 at 1 p.m.

Scene Setter

• Niagara is looking to open the season with consecutive wins for the first time since 2014.
• The Purple Eagles are 4-0-1 all-time against the Akron Zips dating back to their first meeting in 2002. 
• The Purple Eagles have outscored the Zips 7-2 in their last four contests.
• The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series against the Colonials, 17-4-1 and have dominated the series recently. Niagara is 12-4-1 in the last 15 meetings, including winning the last five meetings and have won eight straight at home. NU has outscored Robert Morris' 8-3 in the last five games.
• The Purple Eagles are 4-4 in the last eight trips to Robert Morris.
• Niagara defeated Robert Morris last season by a score of 3-2 on Aug. 26, 2018. The Purple Eagles recorded 31 shots in that contest.

 
Kickoff Tidbits

• The striking duo of Annie Ibey and Kelsey Araujo each scored, while assisting the other, in Niagara's 2-1 win over UMass-Lowell in the season opener on August 22.
• Ibey opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a half-volley finish at the top of the box. Araujo netted the game-winning goal in the 58^th minute after the Purple Eagles forced a turnover with Ibey finding Araujo for a tap-in.
• The duo were the top two leading scorers (goals, assists, points) for Niagara last season.
• Goalkeeper Sabrina Locas recorded six saves during Niagara's play against UMass Lowell.

 
Across the Pitch
Akron Zips (0-2-0)

• Akron is searching for their first win on the season after falling by a combined score of 3-1 in their first two matchups
• After finishing 8-9-2 in the 2018 regular season, the Zips were eliminated in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Western Michigan.
• The Zips are led by fifth-year head coach Noreen Herlihy.
• Akron's eight wins last season were the most since 2009.

 
Across the Pitch
Robert Morris Colonials (0-1-1)

• The Colonials fell to the Bucknell Bisons, 2-1, in overtime in their season opener. Then in the home opener, they tied the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 1-1.
• The Colonials had two players, freshman forward Sheridan Reid and junior goalkeeper Sydney Bruckner, earn Northeast Conference awards for week one.
• Although winless on the season, the Colonials have just a -1-goal differential through their first two games.
• Robert Morris finished last season 6-12 and did not qualify for the postseason. However, five of their twelve losses were decided by just one goal.
• Former United States Men's National Team interim coach and Tampa Bay Mutiny head coach is entering his 19^th season as the head coach of the Colonials women's soccer team.
• The Colonials were picked to finish seventh in the Northeast Conference in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.