NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women's lacrosse team (1-5, 0-0 MAAC) played a tight game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (7-5, 2-1 A-10) on Tuesday afternoon at Niagara Field, but a 9-1 run gave the Little Three foe the victory by a final score of 17-9.

Niagara held the lead five different times during a nip and tuck first half. Sophomore Lisa Chute gave the Purple Eagles their first lead 35 seconds into the game, before St. Bonaventure tied it nearly three minutes later. Courtney Formato and Rianne Farrugia netted two goals, while Fran Pollastro and Emily Chayka also scored for the Purple Eagles in the first half, giving Niagara a slim 7-6 lead late in the opening 20 minutes.

The Bonnies would end the first half on a 3-0 run, part of a bigger 9-1 run, which gave the visiting team a 15-8 lead with just under 10 minutes to play. Chute and Farrugia would score for Niagara in the second half, but it wasn't enough.

Farrugia scored three goals for Niagara, while Formato notched two goals and an assist. Sophomore netminder Alma Aponte made a career-high 16 saves in the loss.

The Purple Eagles open up MAAC action on Friday, when they host Marist at 7 p.m.