Full Meet Results

Photo credit: Samantha Loper

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles women's swimming & diving team welcomed the University of New Hampshire Wildcats for the team's final home meet Sunday morning at the Oxy Aquatic Center. Cara Mergner, who was one of three Niagara women honored during yesterday's Senior Day meet against Canisius, highlighted the day with a first-place finish in the 1-meter diving event. Overall, Niagara was outscored 182.5 to 56.5 by New Hampshire.
 
Meet Recap

• Mergner took first in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 219.75. On the 3-meter board, Mergner turned in a score of 213.90, finishing in second behind New Hampshire's Erin Cullather (218.10).
• The relay team of Lauren Nicastro, Bridgette Ehrmann, Julia Casolo, and Kristen Suarez finished third in the 200 medley relay at 1:53.64.
• Nastassja Posso, who set a personal- and season-best in the 200 free versus Canisius on Saturday at 1:59.11, took third against New Hampshire with a time of 2:00.78.
• Suarez and Sydney Kligys took third and fourth, respectively, in a tightly-contested 50 free race. Suarez took third in 25.70 seconds, followed by Kligys at 25.73. New Hampshire's Kaitlin Cahill finished first at 25.33.
• Suarez also took third in the 100 free with a time of 56.05, followed by Annie Eckhardt at 56.31.
• Angelica Gordon led Niagara in the 400 IM at 5:02.59.
• Julia Casolo (59.62) and Hannah Charlton (1:01.82) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 100 fly.
• Kathleen Wagoner led Niagara in the 100 back at 1:05.04.
• In the distance swims, Montanna Valler led Niagara with a time of 5:56.35 in the 500 free and a 12:02.57 in the 1000 free.
• Eckhardt, Kligys, Posso, and Casolo picked up a second-place finish in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:41.92.

 
Coach's Corner

• Head coach Ben Nigro: "I was very excited to see Cara win the 1-meter event today. She dove the best I have ever seen her dive, and she really put together a great meet. It was great for the ladies to go back to back days and compete hard. This sets us up well for the MAAC Championships."

 
Next Up

• The Niagara men and women head to St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Jan. 28 for the final dual meet of the season. The Purple Eagles and Bonnies will square off at 1:00 p.m.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for swimming and diving updates, follow @Niagaraswimdive. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.