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Head coach Peter Veltri |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Ninth-year Niagara University head women’s soccer coach Peter Veltri and the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament champion Purple Eagles announced its 2007 schedule Tuesday, highlighted by four Empire State teams and the annual Niagara Tournament.
Last season, the Purple Eagles became the 10th Niagara University squad to earn an NCAA Tournament berth, won their first league tournament title and posted records of 12-7-1 overall and 7-2-1 in the conference. A tough non-conference schedule this season should get the Purple Eagles ready for the conference season and their quest to once again go deep into postseason play.
"Over the past few years our schedule has continued to get more and more difficult, and this year is no exception," Veltri said. "I would say that our 2008 schedule is the hardest schedule in the programs history. When you take into account the quality teams, and combine the fact that we are adding nine new players, it has the making for a fun and exciting season.
"The best part about our season is that we will have a very good understanding of the team going into our MAAC schedule," he continued. "Our hope is that the team will be able to gel together quickly and be ready for conference play. We have the talent to be successful, it’s a matter of how quickly we come together."
For the second consecutive year, Niagara kicks of the season against Big Four foe University at Buffalo on Aug. 31. Last season, the Purple Eagles extended its home- and season-opening win streaks to six with a 3-1 win. Following the Buffalo contest, Niagara travels to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers Sept. 2.
The Purple Eagles return home to host the Niagara Tournament on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9, playing Binghamton University and American University.
Niagara begins a four-game road swing Sept. 14 when it meets the University of Detroit Mercy. It then takes on Central Michigan University Sept. 16, Cornell University Sept. 21 and Little Three rival St. Bonaventure University Sept. 23. A home game against Robert Morris University on Sept. 30 closes the non-conference portion of the 2007 schedule.
The Purple Eagles open the 17th season of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play Oct. 5 when they host Iona College. Fairfield University is also in town Oct. 7.
Niagara is on the road at Saint Peter’s College and Manhattan College, Oct. 12 and Oct. 14, respectively, before returning home to Niagara Field for its two final home contests. The Purple Eagles host Rider University Oct. 19 and play the defending regular-season champion Loyola College Oct. 21 in the season finale. Loyola has captured five of the last seven MAAC titles, and in their only meeting last season the Greyhounds slipped past the Purple Eagles, 3-2.
Three road contests at Canisius College Oct. 27, at Marist College Nov. 2 and at Siena College Nov. 4 round out the 2007 schedule.
The 2007 MAAC Championship is Nov 9-11 at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The MAAC champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
