NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women’s soccer team brings its longest road trip of the season to a close this weekend when it play Ohio University on Friday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. and Youngstown State University on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.

Follow the Purple Eagles
Live Stats for Friday’s game against Ohio and Sunday’s afternoon game against Youngstown will be available. To access live stats, please click on the appropriate link above. 

Purple Eagles 101
The Purple Eagles are 1-2-0 to start off the 2012 campaign, having won their first game of the year against Buffalo in a 1-0 double overtime victory. 

Senior forward Jamie Raepple and junior defender Danielle Kennedy each have one goal to their name, while freshman midfielder Maria Siegrist-Gabas and junior forward Kayla Picanco have contributed a helper.  Senior midfielder Michaela DiFazio leads the team in shots with eight, with Raepple not far behind with seven looks on goal. 

Freshman goalkeeper Claire Feiertag has started all three contests, making 15 saves for a 0.93 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage.  She earned her first collegiate shutout in the win over Buffalo this past Sunday.

Scouting Ohio
The Bobcats welcome Niagara to Chessa Field with a 2-3-0 record.  Ohio is currently on a two-game winning streak, its last victory coming against Morehead State, 1-0.  Senior midfielder Catherine Rogers leads the Ohio offense having tallied four of the Bobcat’s five goals this season for eight points.  Junior midfielder Maggie Murnane has also contributed a goal. 

Junior goalkeeper Mattie Liston will likely earn the nod in goal, having earned a 2-2-0 record with a 1.60 goals-against average and a .784 save percentage. 

First-Time Battle 
Friday’s contest will mark the first time the Purple Eagles and Bobcats have met on the field.  Ohio is the only team during this season’s schedule that Niagara has never played before.

Taking a Look at Youngstown State 
The Penguins are currently on a four-game winning streak as they prepare for Niagara’s arrival at Stambaugh Stadium.  The team holds a 4-0-1 record for the young season, with junior Rachel Morrison on a three-game scoring streak.  Sophomore Chelsey Haney is also a threat in the attacking third, ranking second on the team with two goals and five points, while amassing 17 shots and 4.25 shots per game. 

Junior goalkeeper Ali Viola has been dominant in goal for Youngstown, recording back-to-back shutouts.  She has made 19 saves on the season for a 0.50 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. 

All-Time Against the Penguins
The Purple Eagles have been dominant against the Penguins since their first meeting in 1999, having won all seven contests.  The last time these two teams met was back on Sept. 30, 2005 where Niagara came out with a decisive 4-0 win. 

Double OT Thriller
Niagara secured its first victory of the season in exciting fashion, scoring a late double-overtime tally against Buffalo on Sunday to come out with a 1-0 victory.   With two minutes left in the contest and the score tied at 0-0, forward Jamie Raepple was on the receiving end of a Kayla Picano pass in the box.  With her back to the net, Raepple swung around and took a low shot that snuck past the Bulls goalkeeper.      

Freshman goalkeeper Claire Feiertag came away with her first shutout as a Purple Eagle, making four saves en route to the win. 

Welcome Home
Niagara finally returns to Monteagle Ridge next weekend to host the NU Fall Classic on Friday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 16.  The Purple Eagles will play St. Francis (Pa.) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Robert Morris on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Niagara Field.