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After five games on the road to begin the 2016 season, the Niagara lacrosse team comes back to Monteagle Ridge for two home games in the coming week. The Purple Eagles open their home slate at Niagara Field Sunday as they take on the Cincinnati Bearcats at 12:00 p.m.
 
Last Time Out

• The Purple Eagles lost both games in their Florida road trip last week, losing a hard-fought game 13-8 to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Jacksonville, FL on March 1 before a 19-3 loss to the third-ranked Florida Gators on March 4.
• Against Coastal Carolina, Niagara trailed by a narrow 9-8 deficit with just over 11 minutes to play, but the Purple Eagles' offense was shut out down the stretch while Coastal Carolina scored four more goals to secure the win.
• Caroline Crump scored a season-high four goals for the Purple Eagles, while Taylor Wolf added two tallies of her own.
• Alexis Morales and Molly Gray rounded out the goal scoring, while Danielle Maio, Rachel MacCheyne, Samantha Brill, and Hailey D'Hont all earned assists.
• Goalkeeper Andrea Francisco made eight saves on 21 shots on goal in the loss.
• The Purple Eagles then headed to Gainesville for their second meeting in as many years with the Florida Gators.
• Florida, now ranked No. 2 in the NCAA, scored 13 goals in the first period en route to a 19-3 win over Niagara.
• Morales, MacCheyne, and Jillian Ford scored the goals for Niagara, while Sarah Arndt tallied an assist.

 
Niagara Notes

• The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC with an average of 9.4 caused turnovers per game, good for 27th in the NCAA.
• Senior defender Elizabeth Benedict is tied for fifth in the MAAC with an average of 1.6 caused turnovers per game.
• Niagara's 11.40 goals against per game ranks fifth in the conference.
• Sophomore Alexandra Higgins ranks fourth in the MAAC in draw controls per game, averaging 3.40 per appearance.
• Francisco tied a career-high with 12 saves in Niagara's overtime loss Feb. 23 at Colgate.
• Niagara allowed just six goals to Binghamton on Feb. 20. It was the lowest goal total by a Niagara opponent in a game since the Purple Eagles held Detroit to four goals on Apr. 2, 2014.
• Crump became the second Niagara freshman to record a hat trick this season with her four-goal performance against Coastal Carolina. Morales scored three goals Feb. 20 at Binghamton.

 
Scouting the Bearcats (4-3)

• Cincinnati comes to Monteagle Ridge after having a three-game winning streak snapped in an 11-5 loss at Ohio State on Friday.
• The Bearcats won three straight home games against Robert Morris, Detroit, and Central Michigan from Feb. 28 to March 6.
• Niagara is 2-1 all-time against Cincinnati.
• The Bearcats won the first meeting between these two programs, 12-11, on March 5, 2013. Niagara won by scores of 12-6 against the Bearcats March 1, 2014 at Niagara Field and 12-9 in Cincinnati on Feb. 27, 2015.
• Offensively, Megan Bell leads the Bearcats in goals (12), assists (8), and points (20).
• Cincinnati goalkeeper Meg Gulmi is 4-3 this season with a 7.84 goals-against average and .490 save percentage.

 
Next Appearance

• Niagara returns to its home field Friday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. for the program's first meeting with the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers since 1998.

 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for lacrosse updates, follow @NiagaraWLAX. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.