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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Coming off back-to-back double-digit win seasons, the men's soccer team look to make it three straight years of 10+ wins beginning on Friday when it hosts Big 4 rival University at Buffalo at 3 p.m.

The game will be the first of an SBU soccer doubleheader, as the women's team will face 2010 NCAA participant Siena in the second game at 5 p.m.

Following the contest with UB, the men will conclude their season-opening weekend with a trip to Lewiston, N.Y. to face Little Three rival Niagara on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Mel Mahler, the Bonnies have qualified for the six-team Atlantic 10 Championship each of the past two seasons. Last year the club finished 10-8-1 overall and tied for 4th in the A-10 with a 5-3-1 mark. If St. Bonaventure were to win 10 games this year, it would mark the first time the program has won 10 or more games in three straight years since 1997-99.

That will not be accomplished easily in the always-competitive A-10; however, despite losing 14 players from last year's club, the Brown and White was tabbed to finish in 6th place in the conference in preseason voting conducted by league head coaches. Charlotte was picked to claim the 2011 title.

Returning to lead the offensive attack is sophomore Emmett O'Connor, who paced the Bona roster with five goals and 17 points a season ago. In fact, his seven assists not only led the A-10, but also were the most in a season by a freshman in program history, dating back to its inception in 1964. O'Connor was twice named the A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week during the season, and was rewarded for his play at the conclusion of the campaign with a spot on the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team and All-Rookie Team.

Joining O'Connor on the All-Rookie Team a year ago was Brad Vanino. The Sinking Spring, Pa. native appeared in all 19 games last season, making 18 starts, and finished with five assists. That quintet of helpers ranked fifth in the entire A-10.

Last year the offensive output was nearly split equally between the freshman and senior classes. Ninety-nine percent of the team's total offense (75 of 76 points) came from either the freshman (55 percent) or senior (44 percent) class. Mahler will welcome 15 newcomers – 12 of them freshmen – to a core of 16 returning letterwinners – 13 of them sophomores (14 in total, not including Zach Sullivan who did not play last season).

St. Bonaventure will open the season with two goalkeepers who have not played a single minute of collegiate soccer. Sophomore Mitchell Mack and freshman Bobby Diaz will look to replace David Flynn, who graduated in May as statistically the greatest goalkeeper in Bonaventure history. Flynn holds the top four single-season goals against averages in program history, and naturally as a result has the career goals against record with an average of 1.19. His next closest competitor in that category has a career goals against average of 1.71 (Rob Vartughian, 1996-99).

This will be the second consecutive season the Bonnies have opened their season at home. Last year they defeated Cleveland State, 1-0. That win was a precursor for things to come on the McGraw-Jennings pitch, as the club finished with an impressive 6-1-1 mark at home during the 2010 docket.

 Scouting Buffalo

• The Bulls finished last year with a 7-10-1 overall mark, and a 3-3 record in the Mid-American Conference (MAC)
• UB was eliminated in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament by the 2010 national champion Akron Zips, 3-1
• The Bulls lost their top two scorers from last year to graduation; senior forward Andy Tiedt is UB's top returning scorer as he finished last year with five points on two goals and an assist
• Last season, UB used one of those Tiedt goals to defeat the Bonnies with a 64th-minute tally, 2-1
• Head coach John Astudillo is taking a medical leave of absence for this year; associate head coach Dave Hesch will take on the interim head coach title until the conclusion of the season
• Astudillo has posted an overall record of 190-173-35 in his 22 seasons on the UB sidelines, the most wins of any coach in Bulls' history

 Scouting Niagara

• Niagara finished last season 7-9-2 overall, with a 5-3-1 record in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
• Chase Brooks is in his first season as the head coach of the Purple Eagles; Chase had previously served as the top assistant at Dayton for the past four years
• Senior Carl Haworth was named as the 2011 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year; he led Niagara with 11 goals and 26 points last season
• The Purple Eagles are 2-0 in their last two home openers
• The Bonnies won last year's matchup at McGraw-Jennings Field, 3-1
• The game will be televised via tape-delay in the Western New York area on Sunday and throughout the week on Lockport Community Television (LCTV); the game will air on channel 20 on Sunday at 7 p.m., and then throughout the week also on channel 20; more information on when the game will be shown can be found here

Following the contests against Buffalo and Niagara, the Bonnies will head to Harrisonburg, Va. to compete in the James Madison University Tournament next weekend. St. Bonaventure will face UNC Asheville on Friday before battling Florida Atlantic on Sunday.