NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Thanks in large part to another strong defensive effort, the Purple Eagles lacrosse team extended its winning streak to four games against the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Niagara (5-4, 1-0 MAAC) held Quinnipiac to just two first-period goals en route to an 11-6 victory Saturday afternoon at Niagara Field.
 
Caroline Crump (3+1) and Hailey D'Hont (1+3) led the Purple Eagles with four points apiece. Danielle Maio registered a season-high three goals, Alexis Morales added two scores of her own, and Sarah Arndt and Rachel MacCheyne also scored as the Purple Eagles moved to 5-4, the best overall record in the conference. Andrea Francisco made six saves in her fifth win of the season.
 
"It was great to get our first MAAC win of the season today," head coach Wendy Stone said. "We set the tone right from the start of the game, and we were able to use our ride to generate momentum on the offensive end of the field."
 
"Over the last two games, we've had several different players step up and make plays when we needed them to, and we could not be more proud of the effort on both ends of the field today."
 
After surrendering the first goal of the game to Quinnipiac (2-6, 0-1 MAAC), Niagara came back with three goals to reclaim the lead as Crump scored twice in a span of 2:56 before D'Hont made it 3-1 off a free position shot. Quinnipiac narrowed the deficit to one goal at the 19:15 mark, but that was the last goal Niagara would surrender in the first period. Jillian Ford fed Arndt in front of the Quinnipiac net for a goal with 12 minutes until halftime, and Crump and Maio scored in the final 1:01 of the period to give the Purple Eagles the 6-2 lead midway through the contest.
 
The Bobcats came out of the half surging offensively, scoring goals on each of their first two possessions to draw within two just 2:19 into the second period. That was as close as Quinnipiac would get, as Maio scored twice in a 2:10 stretch before Arndt fed MacCheyne to give Niagara a 9-4 lead with 18:44 to play. Quinnipiac followed that run with two goals of their own, as Cara O'Meally converted on a free position shot and Allison Kuhn scored unassisted with 5:16 to play before the Purple Eagles locked down the game.
 
With time winding down, the Purple Eagles took advantage of a Quinnipiac defense that was aggressively pursuing the ball, and D'Hont fed Morales for two goals separated by 44 seconds to give the Purple Eagles the 11-6 victory.
 
Conference play continues for Niagara on the road, as the Purple Eagles travel to Monmouth for a 1 p.m. game on Apr. 3 before concluding the two-game road trip at Marist at 4 p.m. on Apr. 5.
 
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