NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University lacrosse team and head coach Wendy Stone announced the 2017 regular-season schedule on Monday. The Purple Eagles' 17-game schedule includes eight home games, including the season opener Feb. 20, 2017 against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. Niagara's schedule is also highlighted by non-conference home matchups with Colgate, Yale, and Binghamton.
 
"Our 2017 schedule will allow us the opportunity to challenge ourselves both physically and mentally prior to heading into MAAC play," head coach Wendy Stone said. "The MAAC has improved top to bottom, and our out of conference schedule should prepare us well for our conference slate. We could not be happier with the progress that we have made on the field this fall. With all the success we had last season, we know that our team has set our sights high this year.  We are looking forward to rising to the challenge and taking a step forward as a program."
 
The Purple Eagles begin the 2017 season with two home games on Niagara Field, opening against St. Bonaventure on Monday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. before hosting the Colgate Raiders at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Niagara starts the month of March on a three-game road trip, playing Mount St. Mary's, Jacksonville, and Stetson in a seven-day stretch before returning home to host the Yale Bulldogs on Monday, March 13. Niagara plays host to the Binghamton Bearcats on Wednesday, March 22, the team's final home non-conference game of the season. The team caps a tough non-conference schedule at Rutgers March 28 at 7 p.m. and at Michigan Apr. 4 at 5 p.m.

The Purple Eagles' MAAC opener takes place on March 26 as they head to Iona to face the Gaels in a 1 p.m. Sunday matchup. Niagara's first home game against a MAAC opponent will be a noon contest against the Fairfield Stags on Saturday, Apr. 1. Niagara will also host MAAC opponents Manhattan, Monmouth, and Marist in the month of April. The Purple Eagles play MAAC games on the road against Siena and Quinnipiac in April, and close the regular season with the annual Battle of the Bridge matchup, a 7 p.m. game at Canisius on Wednesday, Apr. 26.

Saturday, April 29 marks the beginning of the MAAC Championship with first-round play, and the semifinals and championship final taking place from May 6-8.

Stone returns for her fifth season as the Purple Eagles' head coach after leading the team to its best conference record (5-3) and second-best overall record (9-9) in program history in 2016. This season, Stone is assisted by former Kennesaw State assistant and Holy Cross goalkeeper Amy Martin and former Maryland defender and 2016 Tewaaraton Award finalist Alice Mercer. The Purple Eagles return 2016 Second Team All-MAAC honorees Caroline Crump, Alexandra Higgins, and Andrea Francisco, 2016 MAAC All-Rookie Team midfielder Alexis Morales, and 2016 Preseason All-MAAC defender Kara Martin.
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for lacrosse updates, follow @NiagaraWLAX. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles. 

Conference games denoted with *, home games in ALL CAPS
 

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME
Monday, February 20, 2017	ST. BONAVENTURE	2:00 PM
Tuesday, February 28, 2017	COLGATE	3:00 PM
Saturday, March 4, 2017	at Mount St. Mary's	11:00 AM
Wednesday, March 8, 2017	at Jacksonville	3:00 PM
Friday, March 10, 2017	at Stetson	4:00 PM
Monday, March 13, 2017	YALE	TBD
Wednesday, March 22, 2017	BINGHAMTON	2:00 PM
Sunday, March 26, 2017	at Iona *	1:00 PM
Tuesday, March 28, 2017	at Rutgers	7:00 PM
Saturday, April 1, 2017	FAIRFIELD *	12:00 PM
Tuesday, April 4, 2017	at Michigan	5:00 PM
Saturday, April 8, 2017	MANHATTAN *	1:00 PM
Wednesday, April 12, 2017	at Siena *	4:00 PM
Saturday, April 15, 2017	MONMOUTH *	11:00 AM
Wednesday, April 19, 2017	MARIST *	2:00 PM
Sunday, April 23, 2017	at Quinnipiac *	12:00 PM
Wednesday, April 26, 2017	at Canisius *	7:00 PM
April 29 - May 7, 2017	MAAC Championship	TBD