NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Niagara (4-1-0) breezed its way to a comfortable 4-2 victory over Albany (2-4-0) in its first game of the annual Niagara Falls Classic tonight at Niagara Field. Senior forward Stephanie Gartley (Camlachie, Ont.) scored a hat-trick, including two goals in the first 12 minutes, en route to the Purple Eagles fourth straight win.
“We are happy that we won and were able to play a lot of people tonight,” head coach Peter Veltri said. “We had some very good moments, but we need to be more consistent throughout the game.”
Niagara struck early with two goals in the first 12 minutes of the game. In the ninth minute, Shaylyn Lawrence (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) played a long ball over the top of the Great Danes back four to Gartley, who toe poked the ball passed the keeper and tucked the ball into the open net. Three minutes later, the duel was involved in the second goal. Lawrence shot was blocked in the box, but Gartley followed with a rocket shot inside the 18-yard box that smashed off of the inside of the crossbar for a 2-0 Niagara lead.
Freshman Laura Kimoto (Scarborough, Ont.) added her third goal of the season and third of the game in the 22nd
minute. Kimoto keenly beat the offside trap and beat the keeper one-on-one.
In the 34th minute, Albany pulled a goal back from a header by Teresa Boring.
The Purple Eagles were not done with the scoring and scored within 10 minutes at the start of the second half. Lawrence and Gartley connected for the second time in the game for the fourth goal. In the 55th minute, Lawrence beat her marker and played a cross in the box to Gartley who beat the keeper with a sharp shot to the near post.
Niagara did concede a late goal, but the Purple Eagles were able to withhold a comeback by Albany.
Gartley’s five goals have all come in the last two games and she is now two goals behind Jane Baker for fourth place in all-time career goals.
Niagara will play the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (3-3-0) on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the conclusion of the Niagara Falls Classic. The Fighting Sioux defeated Drexel, 1-0, in the first game of the classic this afternoon.
