Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—The Niagara women’s lacrosse team was defeated by the Marist Red Foxes, 22-8, this afternoon in a MAAC tilt at Leonidoff Field. 

Five different Purple Eagles scored including Danielle Maio who had two goals and an assist, and Maria Battista, who posted two goals.  Paige Matecki and Allie Bush also had three groundballs and Bush won three draw controls. 

"We did some nice things offensively, and the execution was there at times, but our consistency was lacking," head coach Wendy Stone said.  "To win games we are going to need to put together sixty minutes of quality lacrosse. We will work to be better as we face Canisius next time out." 

Seven goals were netted in the opening 10 minutes of play during both teams’ first conference game of the season.   Niagara struck first at 27:43 on a goal by Battista, but Marist responded with three straight goals to jump out to a 3-1 advantage.    

Niagara and Marist then went goal-for-goal, with the Purps getting goals from Maio and Kayla Smith, but the Red Foxes closed out the half with a 10-2 run to head into break with a 14-5 lead.  Maio added her second of the afternoon during the Red Foxes’ run, while Battista took advantage of a free position attempt.

Out of the break, Marist struck at 27:47 and 26:53 to take a 16-5 lead.  Fran Pollastro netted the Purp’s first goal in the second period for her 14th of the season, but the Red Foxes answered with back-to-back goals from Ashley Miller at 23:35 and Kirsten Viscount at 22:10. 

Emily Fleetwood grabbed her second of the season under the 20 minute mark of the half to make it 18-7, but Marist ended the game with a 4-1 run to come away with the win.  Katherine Pille was the last Purple Eagle to find the back of the net. 

Paige Sasser made five saves on the day. 

Marist outshot Niagara, 33-21, and held a slight 17-16 advantage in groundballs.  The Purps had 13 controls and was 10-for-12 on clears while Marist had 19 draw controls and was 15-for-15 on clear attempts. 

Niagara is back in action on April 3 when it hosts cross-town rival Canisius at 7 p.m. at Niagara Field.  The game will also be aired live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.