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After completing their non-conference schedule Tuesday at Michigan, the Purple Eagles lacrosse team returns to MAAC play on Saturday, April 16 as the team travels to Manhattan to face the Jaspers. Niagara defeated Manhattan 18-12 in their last meeting back on April 18, 2015.
 
Last Time Out

• Meeting for the second straight season at Michigan Stadium, Niagara and Michigan played 14 minutes of scoreless lacrosse before the Wolverines' offense broke loose.
• Michigan took a 6-1 lead into halftime and continued to bolster the lead in the second half for the 13-1 victory.
• Sarah Arndt scored the lone Purple Eagles goal with eight minutes to play in the first period, and Andrea Francisco made eight saves in the cage.
• Niagara got stand-out defensive performances from Bailey Collins (four caused turnovers, one loose ball), Elizabeth Benedict (two ground balls, two caused turnovers) and Kara Martin (three ground balls, one caused turnover).
• The Purple Eagles are now 5-3 in their last eight games. The team has four conference games remaining in the regular season.

 
Lacrosse Signs Audrey Fithall To NLI

• On Friday, Niagara announced the signing of a National Letter of Intent (NLI) from 5-foot-5 Australian midfielder Audrey Fithall.
• Fithall played for Team Australia at the 2015 FIL Rathbones Women's U19 World Championship, playing against current Niagara players Bailey Collins (Team Canada) and Zoe Parker (Team England).
• Fithall is the eighth member of the incoming lacrosse class coming to Niagara in the fall of 2016.

 
Niagara Notes

• Niagara continues to hold a prominent ranking in many defensive statistics among MAAC teams.
• The Purple Eagles remain first in ground balls per game (20.46; 10th in the NCAA) while placing second in scoring defense (10.15) and caused turnovers per game (9.23).
• Alexandra Higgins ranks fourth in the MAAC with 3.92 draw controls per game, while Danielle Maio is ninth with 2.92 per game. On average, the two account for 6.84 of Niagara's 11.0 draw controls per game.
• Goalkeeper Andrea Francisco sits third in the conference with a 10.29 goals-against average.
• Freshman Caroline Crump leads Niagara in goals (23), assists (11), and points (34). Her 34 points are the most for any MAAC freshman.

 
Scouting the Jaspers (4-9, 0-4 MAAC)

• Manhattan hosts Niagara for their Senior Day on Saturday.
• Manhattan holds the edge in the all-time series 13-6, but Niagara has won two of the last three contests between these two teams.
• The Jaspers are looking for their first MAAC win of the 2016 season. After a pair of one-goal losses to Siena and Monmouth to open conference play, Manhattan was defeated 19-3 by Canisius on April 9 and 25-12 by Marist on April 13.
• Stefanie Radigan leads the Jaspers with 23 goals, while Claire Roediger leads the team with 11 assists and 30 points.
• Radigan boasts the MAAC's best mark in draw controls per game with 4.77 (62 in 13 games).

 
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