NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s lacrosse team (5-5, 1-4) travels to Siena (7-6, 4-1) Saturday and Le Moyne (9-4, 4-1) Sunday for its final two contests of the 2005 season. Saturday’s game is set to begin at noon, while Sunday’s game will start at 1 p.m.
The Purple Eagles enter the contests riding a three-game losing streak, each by two goals or less, including a 10-8 overtime loss to Canisius Wednesday. The loss eliminated Niagara from a potential postseason berth and was the first loss to the Golden Griffins in their 11 meetings all-time.
Niagara senior Rachel Jones (Amherst, N.Y.) needs seven points to join Niagara’s 100+ point club. Teammate and fellow senior Ashley Baker (Henrietta, N.Y.) surpassed the century mark earlier this season and currently ranks seventh on Niagara’s all-time point-scoring list with 117 points in 52 games. Jones would be only the eighth Purple Eagle to post at least 100 points in her career. She needs six goals to move into a tie with Ashley Grosso as the third-highest goal-scorer in Niagara history with 85 goals.
Freshman Emma-Lee Harrison (Lakefield, Ont.) needs four goals to tie Niagara’s record for the highest goal-scoring freshman. Mary Cutia set the original mark of 26 goals in 1997.
Niagara is 7-1 all-time against Siena, not losing since a March 29, 1998 contest, which remains the lowest scoring game in Niagara’s record books, as the Saints won, 4-3.
Siena is led by sophomore Christina Pampalone, who has totaled 33 goals and 42 points in 14 games. She is two points ahead of the team’s assist leader, sophomore Michelle Eide, who has 27 goals and 13 assists in 14 games.
Goalkeeper Bethany Zimmer has nearly 800 minutes between the pipes this season, averaging an 11.08 goals-against average and .469 save percentage.
The Le Moyne Dolphins enter Sunday’s game riding a five-game winning streak. The team travels to Canisius Saturday prior to hosting Niagara Sunday.
Le Moyne won the regular season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship last season, despite a 10-9 regular-season loss to Niagara, April 17, 2004. The Dolphins are 7-3 all-time against Niagara, including a 15-7 victory in the 2003 MAAC Semifinal.
Le Moyne lists five players with at least 32 points, including the team’s leading scorer, senior Megan Keddy, who leads the team with 35 points on 19 goals and 16 assists. Sophomore Amanda Keegan ranks second on the team with 34 points and is tied with junior Liz Hewitt for the team’s goal-scoring lead with 27.
