STATE COLLEGE, PA. - The Niagara women's lacrosse team (0-2, 0-0 MAAC) couldn't hold onto a five-goal halftime lead, falling to the St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash (3-2, 0-0 NEC) 13-10 at Bigler Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The two teams would trade goals early in the game, playing to a 3-3 standstill until the final third of the opening 30 minutes. The Purple Eagles would then go on a 5-0 run during the final 10 minutes of the first half, with Emily French and Courtney Formato each netting two goals as well as a marker from Nicole Karek.

St. Francis responded by opening the second half on a 5-0 run of their own to tie the game with nine minutes left to play. French would give the Purple Eagles a 9-8 lead with just over five minutes left to play, but the Red Flash closed out the game on a 5-1 run to put the game away.

Formato and French each scored three goals, while Karek finished with two tallies and an assist. Senior Kristen Pieszak made 13 saves in the loss.

The Purple Eagles begin their six-game, month long homestand on Monday, March 15, when Niagara hosts Buffalo State at 4 p.m.