ST. BONAVENTURE (0-3-1, 0-0 A-10) AT NIAGARA (3-1-0, 0-0 MAAC)
Sunday, Sept. 1 – 12:00 p.m.
Lewiston, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
 
The St. Bonaventure women's soccer team readies to play their fifth game of the 2024 campaign Sunday at Little Three rival Niagara. The Bonnies and the Purple Eagles will kick off at 12:00 p.m. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies earned a 1-1 draw against Binghamton in their home opener last Sunday. Alessia Donia, Mahelie Barbeau, and Lily Ma executed a tic-tac-toe play with Ma sending the ball past the Bearcat keeper. 
 
The goal was Ma's first of her collegiate career and Barbeau and Donia were credited with the first points of their young careers. 
 
A LOOK AHEAD
After Sunday's game with the Purple Eagles, the Bonnies will host Youngstown State Thursday, Sept. 5 before traveling to Syracuse the following Sunday and finishing out the non-conference portion of the schedule Wednesday, Sept. 11 at home against Canisius. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
The Bonnies own the recent advantage over the Purple Eagles, winning seven of the last 11 matchups since 2010. 
 
Since 1981, Bona's has gone 12-5-1 in Lewiston with the Bonnies' largest margin of victory coming on the road in 2004 when they took a 5-0 victory over the Purple Eagles. 
 
Bona has come out victorious in the last two meetings as well, taking a 1-0 win in 2022 on the road and a 2-1 win last season at the Marra Athletics Complex. A year ago, senior Sydney Hayward scored the game-winner off a pass from junior Hannah Walker. 
 
COACHING TIES
Before being named the St. Bonaventure head coach prior to last season, Donny George served as an assistant on the Purple Eagles staff for two seasons. George helped guide Niagara to a 24-12-2 record during that time and NU reached the MAAC Championship Game in 2022. 
 
SCOUTING THE PURPLE EAGLES 
Niagara was selected to finish fourth in the MAAC preseason poll and has begun the season with a 3-1 record. Most recently, the Purple Eagles topped Cleveland State 3-1 at home. Their lone loss came in the season opener against Saint Francis (PA). 
 

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