VESTAL, NY – The Purple Eagles lacrosse team opened its season Saturday with a low-scoring battle that featured a tremendous last-minute comeback. Niagara scored two goals in the final 20 seconds of regulation to tie the game at 5-5, only to lose 6-5 on a Binghamton goal with 1:55 remaining in the overtime period Saturday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
 
Freshman Alexis Morales earned a hat trick in her first collegiate game off of a trio of free position shots, the third of which was the game-tying goal with three seconds left in regulation time. Taylor Wolf and Hailey D'Hont also scored for the Purple Eagles (0-1), while Rachel MacCheyne and Caroline Crump picked up assists.
 
"Today was a great starting place for us," head coach Wendy Stone said. "We fought hard, and we are incredibly proud of the effort at both ends of the field. We will work to be better next time out."
 
The Bearcats (1-1) won the opening draw and struck first as Tiffany Ryan beat Francisco just 1:32 into the game. Morales knotted the game at one off a free position chance, only to have Binghamton counter 59 seconds later for a 2-1 advantage. Morales earned her second goal with 17:28 to play in the first half, and Niagara maintained significant possession time the rest of the opening half. Despite a 13-6 shots advantage in the first 30 minutes, a goal from Binghamton's Callon Williams with one minute to play put Niagara in a 3-2 hole at halftime.
 
Niagara would fall behind 5-2 in the second half, but the Purple Eagles clawed back and closed the game on a three-goal run to force overtime. D'Hont scored the first goal of the second half for the Purple Eagles with 8:35 to play before the two goals came in the closing minute to tie the game.
 
MacCheyne set up Wolf for her first goal of the season with 20 seconds remaining, and Niagara drew a free position shot for Morales on the next play. The freshman found the back of the net with three seconds left on the clock to draw even. In the end, however, it was Binghamton who got the deciding tally, as a yellow card was assessed to Wolf and Binghamton's Ryan scored her second of the game on the ensuing man-up opportunity.
 
Niagara returns to game action next Tuesday, Feb. 23 as the Purple Eagles travel to Hamilton, NY to take on the Colgate Raiders at 4:00 p.m. for their second of five road games to start the 2016 season.
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and follow Purple Eagles lacrosse on Twitter @NiagaraWLAX. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.