All-Time Series: MU, 4-0-1 (Last meeting: MU, 5-3 – Oct. 24, 2015)

Location: Niagara Field – Niagara University, NY

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Live Video: PurpleEagles.com

Live Stats: PurpleEagles.com

The Monmouth University men's soccer team continues MAAC play Saturday afternoon when it travels to Western New York to take on Niagara. The Hawks are coming off a thrilling 1-0 win over hOURglass rival Rider on Wednesday in which Daniel Figarella's putback of a saved David Nigro shot gave Monmouth the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. Meanwhile, the Purple Eagles have lost two straight against Rider and Siena following a conference-opening win at Quinnipiac.   

The Purple Eagles are playing their first season under new Head Coach Bill Boyle, who'd been an assistant coach at Michigan State, Colgate and most recently, Albany. Freshman midfielder Mackenzie Roach leads Niagara with two goals and an assist, while Bautista Pedezert, Absalom Solorio, Konrad Zydowicz and Mbongeni Tshuma have each contributed a goal and an assist. Shiquan Lowe rounds out the goal scorers to date for Niagara, while Hector Solorio, Fabrizio Chiari and Borna Juracic have also added assists. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Steve Casey has seen the majority of action in goal this year, posting a 1.18 goals-against average and a .761 save percentage with three shutouts.  

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NIAGARA

Monmouth owns a 4-0-1 edge in the all-time series with Niagara. The Hawks won both ends of a home-and-home series in 1996 and 1997, before also winning both home games as league foes in 2013 and 2015. In 2014, the two teams played to a scoreless draw in Western New York in a game that featured a lightning delay, heavy rain and blustery wind conditions.        

FIGARELLA'S FOE

Sophomore back Daniel Figarella scored his fourth career goal for the game-winner against Rider on Oct. 5. Three of Figarella's four goals have come against the Broncs, with the third being the charm. The Hawks played Rider to a 1-1 draw last regular season in Lawrenceville, before falling, 3-2, in the MAAC Championship Game at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex.

PULLING RANK

With their 1-0 win over Rider on Oct. 5, the Hawks are 1-0-1 against ranked teams this season. Monmouth also played then-No. 15 Denver to a 1-1 draw in the season opener on Aug. 26.

KLENOFSKY CLIMBING MAAC ALL-TIME WINS LEADERBOARD

With the Hawks' 2-1 win in double overtime at Manhattan on Oct. 21, 2015, goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky moved into sole possession of second place all-time in the MAAC with 28 career victories in net. Klenofsky, who now stands at 33 career wins, moved past Niagara's John Fiutowski (2006-09) and only Iona's Nils Binstock (2006-09) remains ahead of the Hawks' junior goalkeeper with 38 career wins. 

STRIP SCORES TWO

Colin Stripling scored both goals in the Hawks' 2-0 conference-opening win over Manhattan on Sept. 27. The senior midfielder streaked in for the rebound of a saved penalty kick in the 6th minute before finishing a David Nigro feed from the top of the 18-yard box in the 29th minute for what proved to be the game winner. 

KEEPER CONTRIBUTIONS

Senior goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky has made his mark on the Hawks' program over the past four years and his absence due to injury for six non-league games covering a month was felt. Since arriving on campus, the Hawks have posted a 33-10-15 record in games started by Klenofsky. In games started by anyone else, Monmouth is 2-9-3. Klenofsky returned to the line-up on Sept. 27 vs. Manhattan. 

FAMILY MATTERS

Michael Luke scored his first career goal for the game winner at Howard on Sept. 17. Luke followed in his brother, Derek's, footsteps, as the elder Luke's first career goal also came as a game-winner in a 1-0 victory (Sept. 22, 2011 at Columbia) early in his freshman year. 

NIGRO'S NIGHT

David Nigro matched his career-best of five points in a single game on Sept. 14 vs. Columbia. The senior forward scored twice and added an assist, matching his output vs. UMass Lowell in the 2014 season opener. 

AREMAN ARRIVES

Junior midfielder Jake Areman, a Maryland transfer, scored his first goal as a Hawk and added an assist against Columbia on Sept. 14. The three-point output matched Areman's one-goal, one-assist effort for the Terps last season in a victory over St. John's. 

SCHAEFER SHOWING UP

Freshman Geoffrey Schaefer responded well to increased playing time, developing several offensive chances and assisting on David Nigro's goal at UMBC on Sept. 10 for his first collegiate point.

FLIPPING IT IN

Sophomore forward Jalil Blalock, whose signature goal celebration is a back flip, scored his first goal of the season on Sept. 1 at Hartford. Blalock received a feed from Dave Nigro in the middle of the 18-yard box and went inside the right post for the score, his third-career goal.

CONTINUING TREND

Colin Stripling led the Hawks with six goals a year ago and began this season in the same way. The senior midfielder deposited the ball in the back of the net on a penalty kick in the 37th minute against Denver as the Hawks and Pioneers played to a 1-1 draw. He then added his second goal at UMBC, equalizing at 2-2 in the 54th minute.

RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THE NATION'S BEST

A fixture in the national polls over the last several years, the Hawks were ranked No. 30 in the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 to earn a national ranking for the 11th straight season. The Hawks also received votes in the poll's second week. Monmouth reached a program-high of the No. 4 ranking in 2010.

PRESEASON RESPECT

Winners of two of the last three MAAC Regular Season Championships, Monmouth was selected by the league's coaches to win the title once again in 2016. In addition, five Hawks comprised the 11-member Preseason All-MAAC Team. Goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Anderson Asiedu, David Nigro, Zachary Pereira and Colin Stripling were also named among the top players in the league.     

RETURN OF THE MAC

Sophomore Anderson Asiedu was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, becoming the first sophomore and the 10th Hawk in Head Coach Robert McCourt's tenure to garner the honor. Asiedu joined Joseph Schmid (2013), Ryan Clark (2012), RJ Allen (2011), Max Hamilton (2011), Anthony Vazquez (2011), Ryan Kinne (2009, 2010), Bryan Meredith (2010), Chase Barbieri (2009) and Tom Gray (2007) among Monmouth players to earn the recognition.

THE GOLD STANDARD

Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt's teams have won nine conference regular season titles in his 12 years directing the program. Included in the Hawks' run of success are five conference tournament championships in the last 10 years and the accompanying NCAA Tournament berths.

RETURNING CAST

Monmouth returns the scorers of 30 of their 41 goals from a year ago, led by leading scorer Colin Stripling (6). Stripling also had five assists to lead the team with 17 points. David Nigro and Miguel Alves also scored five goals apiece, while Zachary Pereira came on strong to score four goals from the back line. Danny Figarella and Andrew Gee chipped in with three goals each, while Anderson Asiedu and Jalil Blalock scored twice each. Along with Pereira, center back Joey Gudzak helped stabilize the Hawks' back line and 2015 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year Eric Klenofsky is back for his fourth season as the last line of defense. 

WELCOME TO THE SQUAD

Monmouth's newcomers include some exciting prospects, including Maryland transfer Jake Areman and 2015 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year John Antunes. The back line lost Derek Luke, but brings a familiar look in Luke's brother, Michael, who will fill Derek's role. Fellow freshman Andy Martinez also looks to fill a pivotal role as a center back. Jacob Curtis, Colin Muller, Geoffrey Schaefer and Ryan Wells will also vie for minutes in their first year in the Blue & White.