DELAND, Fla. – The Niagara University women's lacrosse team wrapped up its trip in Florida with a close 10-9 victory over Stetson on Wednesday evening at the Athletic Training Center.

"Today was a day where things didn't go our way from the start but we were able to fight through and found a way to get back into the game," head coach Wendy Stone said. "We made adjustments in the second half and were able to finish our shots. We will work to play with more poise and discipline going forward."

The Purple Eagles were led by Hannah Barnett who finished with three goals and one assist for four points in the game.
 
Niagara (2-3) outshot the Hatters (2-4), 29-16, on the day and claimed an 18-17 advantage in ground balls. The Purple Eagles finished 10-of-13 in clear attempts and had 15 draw controls compared to Stetson's five.
 
Molly Gray and Carrie-Jo Farrugia both contributed three points in the game. Gray scored two goals and had one helper while Farrugia finished with one goal and two assists. Erin Patenaude added two goals while Taylor Wolf and Cailyn Negus contributed to the Niagara scoring attack with one goal each.
 
Danielle Maio also claimed one ground ball, a team-high five draw controls and caused a turnover on the day.  Andrea Francisco, who played a majority of the contest (38 minutes), made two saves in the contest while Amanda Yavorek collected her first win of the season. 

Stetson recorded the first goal of the game at the 28:45 mark, however, Niagara would even the game 1-1 after a goal from Patenaude set up by Maio. Less than five minutes later the Hatters found the back of the net to take a 2-1 lead but NU tied the game with 13:54 left in the half.

The Hatters claimed the next two goals but Farrugia cut a 4-2 Stetson lead to 4-3 midway through the first period. SU used another 2-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 6-3, but Niagara responded with two goals to bring the score back within one. Stetson closed out the half with one more goal to go into the locker room with a 7-5 lead.

The Purple Eagles opened up the second half scoring the first three goals to take their first lead of the contest, 8-7. Stetson would even the game, 8-8, before Barnett moved Niagara back in front with two goals over the following two and a half minutes.
 
Stetson netted a goal with 2:37 on the clock to pull back within one, 10-9, but Niagara held the Hatters scoreless over the final minute of play to come away with the victory.
 
Stetson finished 10 of 17 in clear attempts and had 18 turnovers in the contest. The Hatters' Sam Maguire led the team with three goals, while Whitney Meyers had eight saves between the pipes.
 
Niagara travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. for its next game to take on the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m.