ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure men's soccer team will head south to Pittsburgh, Pa. where they face off against the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Friday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. and the Howard Bison on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11 a.m. at the Duquesne Invitational hosted by Duquesne University. 

The Bonnies enter this weekend looking to continue their hot start after defeating Big 4 Rivals Niagara and Buffalo. Against Buffalo and Niagara, SBU was able to jump out to a commanding 3-0 lead and were able to hold on to a 3-1 victory. The Brown and White are putting together quite a diverse attack with six goals being scored by five different players. Bonaventure has been able to rely on a trio of seniors, Emmett O'Connor, Brad Vanino and Nicholas Perillowho have all help lead the Bonnies to their 2-0 record to start the season. 

O'Connor is in pursuit of breaking the all-time assist record after dishing out three assists on the season so far. He currently has 22 assists which places him tied for first all-time with Wally Senk '98. O'Connor has also been able to find the net with one goal on the year coming against Buffalo. 

Vanino led St. Bonaventure with two assists in its 3-1 victory over the Purple Eagles of Niagara. His first assist came off a corner kick where he crossed it in towards the far post of the goal were Kolby Banker was there waiting to knock it in. He continued assisting eight minutes later when he shot and the ball ricocheted off to the waiting feet of Steve Carcaterro who was able to drill it home for his 1st career goal. In the game against Buffalo, Vanino recorded six shots. 

Perillo has been the surprise of the squad so far this year. Last season he only started one game out of four games he played in as a defender. This season he has been moved up to the front line and it has paid off for Coach Mel Mahler. Perillo has scored in both games for SBU including the first goal of the season for the team. 

Incarnate Word Cardinals come into the 2013 season as a newly welcomed Division I program as they join the Southland Conference. Last year apart of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) they posted an undefeated conference schedule while going 15-4-1 overall. After the Cardinals were named the LSC Champions they went on to the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament where they lost to Simon Fraser 1-0 in the Elite Eight. Incarnate Word is led by senior midfielder Vinny Bailey who recorded 16 goals and nine assists in 2012. 

Howard Bison (0-2) enters the invitational after competing in the D.C. Cup against fellow Atlantic 10 members George Mason and George Washington. In their 2012 campaign they put up a record of 3-16 with their three wins coming at home off of Liberty, Mount St. Mary's and Navy. The Bison return two goal scorers from last year who scored one goal each. 

After this weekend's event the Bonnies continue on the road where they will take on Delaware in Newark, Del. and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, N.J..