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Purple Eagles Insider, Episode 10: Captains Samantha Brill, Andrea Francisco, and Kara Martin

The Purple Eagles lacrosse team begins the 2017 season on Monday, Feb. 20 on home field with a 2 p.m. start against Western New York foe St. Bonaventure. Niagara looks to build off of a successful nine-win season in 2016, the second-highest win total in one season in program history.
 
Head coach Wendy Stone returns for her fifth season, and she is joined this year by assistant coaches Amy Martin and Alice Mercer. Niagara returns 17 players from the 2016 season, and they are joined by a class of eight freshmen.
 
2016 Season in Review

• Last season, Niagara finished the regular season at 9-8 (5-3 MAAC) and secured the fourth overall seed in the conference. Niagara hosted the Fairfield Stags for a home playoff game in the first round of the MAAC Championship, but dropped a hard-fought 9-7 decision.
• After a five-game road trip to start the season resulted in a 1-4 start, the Purple Eagles went 8-4 over the final 12 games of the season.
• Of Niagara's eight losses this year, two came in overtime in the first two games of the season: a 6-5 overtime loss at Binghamton on February 20, and a 12-11 overtime loss at Colgate on February 23.
• Niagara's 10-9 win at Marist on April 5 was the team's first victory over the Red Foxes since April 12, 2003.
• The Purple Eagles picked up their first win in program history against Fairfield with a 9-7 victory back on April 23.
• Niagara earned six spots on All-MAAC teams at season's end. 2016 Second Team All-MAAC honorees Caroline Crump, Andrea Francisco, and Alexandra Higgins all return for the 2017 season. Crump and midfielder Alexis Morales both enter their sophomore seasons after being named to the 2016 MAAC All-Rookie Team.

 
Defensive Standouts

• At the defensive end, Niagara finished 2016 as the MAAC leader in both 19.94 ground balls per game and 9.78 caused turnovers per game, ranking 11th and seventh nationally in those categories. The Purple Eagles were second in the MAAC with 9.83 goals against per game.
• Senior captains Kara Martin and Andrea Francisco return to anchor the Niagara defense in 2017. Martin racked up 32 ground balls, nine draw controls, and 16 caused turnovers last season. In 2016, Francisco set career-best marks in wins (nine), goals-against average (9.92), save percentage (.410), and total saves (120).
• Alexandra Higgins, a 2017 Preseason All-MAAC Team honoree, led Niagara and ranked fourth in the MAAC with 64 draw controls last season, adding 30 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Higgins, Jillian Ford and Rachel MacCheyne will be trusted as the main options on draws in 2017.
• Senior Isabella Leon, sophomores Bailey Collins and Amy McNally, and freshman Lauren Paul are also expected to make key contributions at the defensive end this season.

 
90 Seconds on the Clock

• The 2017 lacrosse season marks the first one with a 90-second shot clock, a new rule implemented by the NCAA.
• The shot clock will force Niagara to push the pace of the game, starting with the team's deep midfield group.
• Juniors Samantha Brill and Jillian Ford, sophomores Hailey D'Hont and Alexis Morales, and freshman Audrey Fithall are all expected starters for the Purple Eagles at midfield.
• Niagara's deep group of attackers, led by sophomores Caroline Crump and Rachel MacCheyne, will rely on a balanced scoring effort. Senior Hannah Vause and junior Grace Hunt will lead the reserve group up front.

 
Home Field Advantage

• The Purple Eagles have eight regular-season games on home field in 2017, two more than a year ago.
• Niagara hosts St. Bonaventure in Monday's home opener before hosting Colgate on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The Purple Eagles played a tough road contest at Colgate last season, with the Raiders holding on for an 11-10 overtime win.
• Non-conference opponents Yale and Binghamton come to Niagara Field in March to take on the Purple Eagles.
• In MAAC play, Niagara gets home games against Fairfield (Apr. 1), Manhattan (Apr. 8), Monmouth (Apr. 15), and Marist (Apr. 19). Niagara went 3-1 on the road against those teams in the 2016 regular season, including the team's first-ever victory over Fairfield, a 9-7 road win on Apr. 23, 2016.

 
Road Games to Watch For

• Niagara's 2017 road schedule begins with a three-game trip in March, starting at Mount St. Mary's in Maryland on March 4
• The Purple Eagles then head to Florida to face perennial Atlantic Sun powerhouse Jacksonville University on March 8, concluding the trip at Stetson University on March 10.
• After the team's MAAC opener at Iona on March 28, the Purple Eagles travel to nearby Big Ten opponent Rutgers on March 28.
• The non-conference schedule wraps up Apr. 4 as Niagara heads to the Ann Arbor for a third-straight season to take on the Michigan Wolverines.
• Niagara also hits the road to play MAAC foes Siena (Apr. 12) and Quinnipiac (Apr. 23) before concluding the regular season in Buffalo for the annual Battle of the Bridge game against Canisius on Wednesday, Apr. 26.

 
Coach's Corner

• Head coach Wendy Stone: "We could not be more excited to get the 2017 season started.  We have made great strides over the last few years to put ourselves in a position to compete with the perennial powers in the MAAC, and we are ready to show the progress we've made since the end of last season. Our out-of-conference schedule is designed to prepare us for MAAC play, and it will provide us with opportunities to face programs from some of the best conferences in the country.  The MAAC as a whole has gotten much better over the last few years, and we look forward to the challenging slate in front of us."

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