Live Stats
The Purple Eagles lacrosse team opened its 2016 home schedule last week with two thrilling, one-goal victories over the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers. Niagara takes its two-game winning streak on the road as the team heads to St. Bonaventure for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Bonnies on Thursday.
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Last Time Out
- The Purple Eagles defeated Mount St. Mary's 12-11 on Friday, March 18 to move to 2-0 at home in the 2016 season.
- Caroline Crump led the Niagara attack with her best performance of the season, totaling five goals and one assist for six points.
- Alexis Morales earned her second hat trick of the season, and Jillian Ford, Danielle Maio, Cailyn Negus, and Taylor Wolf also scored for Niagara.
- Crump scored three of Niagara's five first-half goals as the Purple Eagles and Mountaineers were tied 5-5 after the first period.
- Mount St. Mary's established an 8-7 lead early in the second half before Maio, Negus, and Ford scored consecutively for Niagara, giving the Purple Eagles a lead they would not relinquish.
- Crump added her fifth goal of the day with 14 minutes to play before assisting on the game-winning goal by Morales with 1:35 remaining in regulation.
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Crump Named MAAC Rookie of the Week
- After her six-point performance on Friday, Crump was named the MAAC Women's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week on March 21.
- The five goals and six points in the win were both career-bests for Crump and season-bests for a Niagara player this season.
- Through seven games, Crump leads Niagara in goals (12), assists (eight), and points (20) while collecting nine ground balls and causing three turnovers.
- Crump ranks fifth in the MAAC with 1.14 assists per game.
- The last Purple Eagle to earn MAAC Rookie of the Week was Taylor Wolf on Feb. 24, 2014.
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Niagara Notes
- The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in scoring defense, allowing just 10.71 goals per game.
- Niagara's 8.57 caused turnovers per game are 41st in the NCAA and second in the MAAC, trailing only Quinnipiac.
- Senior Elizabeth Benedict is tied for seventh in the MAAC in caused turnovers per game (1.29).
- Alexandra Higgins (fifth, 3.86) and Danielle Maio (ninth, 2.71) both rank in the top 10 in the MAAC for draw controls per game.
- Goalkeeper Andrea Francisco is second in the MAAC with a 10.39 goals-against average.
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Scouting the Bonnies (2-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
- St. Bonaventure is wrapping up a three-game home stand as the Bonnies host Niagara on Thursday.
- The Bonnies fell 18-11 to Mount St. Mary's on March 20, two days after Niagara's 12-11 win over the Mountaineers.
- St. Bonaventure started its current home stand with a 17-5 win over Howard.
- Averaging 13 goals per game, the Bonnies are ranked 17th nationally in scoring offense.
- Mikayla Place leads St. Bonaventure in scoring with 14 points on 10 goals and four assists.
Next Appearance
- The Purple Eagles return to Niagara Field as they open MAAC play against the Quinnipiac Bobcats Saturday, March 26 at noon.
