Wednesday's Live Stats  ¦  Saturday’s Live Stats  ¦  Saturday’s Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women’s lacrosse team will continue its non-conference portion of the schedule with a pair of games this week.  The action starts at Albany on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., and wrap up with the team’s home opener on Saturday, March 2 against Robert Morris at 3 p.m. 
 
KEEP UP WITH ALL THE ACTION
Live Stats for Wednesday’s game against Albany and Saturday’s afternoon game against Robert Morris will be available. Free video streaming will only be available for the home contest on Saturday.  To access live stats or live video, please click on the appropriate link above. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Niagara women’s lacrosse team was defeated in its first two contests of the 2013 season.  In the season opener, the Purps fell to Temple 18-5.  The following day, Niagara dropped a hard-fought decision to Saint Joseph’s.  Only down 6-4 at the half, the Owls went on a 7-1 run in the second period to eventually down the Purple Eagles 13-5.
 
Fran Pollastro led the team with three goals, while Brittany Delano aided the attack with two points on a pair of goals and Katherine Pille added a score and a helper. 
 
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
Albany (0-1) has started its season with a loss on the road on the road on Feb. 24 to No. 3 Florida 17-7.  During the game redshirt-freshman Rachel Bowles scored four goals while Allie Phelan followed with two goals. 
 
Another two players to watch for Albany is Rachael Burek and Maureen Keggins who combined for 46 goals from last season. 
 
Coming into the season the 2011 and 2013 America East Conference Tournament champions were chosen second in the 2013 America East Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
ALL-TIME VS. ALBANY
The Purple Eagles will be looking for their first win in nine meetings against the Great Danes in a series that dates back to May 5, 1996.
 
Niagara and Albany last met last season, with the Great Danes coming out with a 19-10 victory at Niagara Field.  
 
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Robert Morris comes to Niagara Field with a clean slate, winning its first two games against Detroit and Howard. 
 
The team that was picked to finish fifth in the 2013 NEC Preseason Coach’s Poll has been led by Corey Karwacki who is at the top with eight points (6 goals, 2 assists), while Jessica Rutherford has seven goals on the season thus far. 
 
Goaltending duties will likely be held by Kaitlin Pentz who in two games has made 9 saves for a .409 save percentage and a 6.82 save percentage. 
 
ALL-TIME VS. ROBERT MORRIS
Niagara holds a slim 2-1 advantage over RMU in the all-time series which began in 2005.  The last time these two squads met was during the 2007 season, when Colonials toppled the Purple Eagles 15-7. 
 
PERSISTENT POLLASTRO
Fran Pollastro is picking up where she left off last season in the points department--already pocketing three goals in two games.  Last season, the senior was second on the team in goal (26), and points (31) while adding five helpers in 14 games.
 
JUNIOR ROOKIE BETWEEN THE PIPES
Junior Paige Sasser made her debut in net for the Purple Eagles on Feb. 16 against Temple and started against in the bout against St. Joseph’s the following day.  She was called to make 14 saves in the pair of contests.