NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women's lacrosse team hosted the Fairfield Stags Saturday afternoon at Niagara Field in a rematch of a first-round matchup from the 2016 MAAC Championships. After a low-scoring first period, the two teams combined for 15 goals after halftime, but it was Fairfield that was able to hold on despite a late rally by Niagara, with the Stags coming out on top by a score of 14-10.
 
Niagara now heads to Ann Arbor to take on the University of Michigan Wolverines at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, the final non-conference game of the season. The Purple Eagles return to Niagara Field to take on the Manhattan Jaspers for Senior Day at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.
 
Game Summary

• Final Score: Fairfield 14, Niagara 10
• Offensive Leaders: Alexis Morales (3G, 1A), Grace Hunt (1G, 3A), Rachel MacCheyne (2G)
• Defensive Leaders: Alexandra Higgins (4 GB, 2 DC, 3 CT), Rachel MacCheyne (2 GB, 3 DC, 2 CT), Jillian Ford (3 GB, 2 DC)
• In Goal: Andrea Francisco (4-6) – 14 GA, 11 SV
• Records: Niagara – 4-6 (1-1 MAAC); Fairfield – 6-4 (2-0 MAAC)
• Attendance: 173

 
Game Recap

• Both goalkeepers, Niagara's Andrea Francisco and Fairfield's Caleigh O'Connor, made a number of strong saves to make for a low-scoring start to the game. Francisco made two saves before the Stags' Alex Fehmel scored the game's first goal 7:09 into the first period.
• Francisco made two more saves in the next four minutes as Fairfield controlled the early possession. However, the Stags broke through with a pair of goals 28 seconds apart to make it 3-0 at the 18:30 mark. The senior netminder responded with a pair of denials on Fairfield free-position shots.
• Niagara's offense broke through with 7:45 left in the first period as Mackenzie Molodetz fought off the Fairfield defense to convert a free-position chance. Alexis Morales then set up Jillian Ford in front of the Fairfield goal to draw the Purple Eagles within one with 5:03 to halftime.
• The Stags rattled off a three goal run to take a 6-2 lead with nine seconds left, but Niagara won the ensuing draw and Samantha Brill found Morales up field for the buzzer-beating goal that picked the top corner, making it 6-3 at the half.
• Both teams came out flying following the half, with five goals scored in the first three minutes of the second period. Fairfield outscored Niagara 3-2 in that stretch, with Caroline Crump and Rachel MacCheyne striking for the Purple Eagles.
• The Stags then shut out Niagara until the 16-minute mark of the second, scoring three times in that stretch to push the Fairfield advantage to 11-5.
• A 3-1 Niagara run made it a 12-8 game with 10 minutes to play. After Morales and Fairfield's Brooke Gallagher traded goals, Crump forced a turnover on a Fairfield clearing attempt and set up Grace Hunt for a goal before Ford set up Morales for her third goal of the afternoon.
• The Stags' Riley Hellstein cut into the Niagara run with a free-position goal, but Hunt picked up a pair of assists, setting up goals by Audrey Fithall and MacCheyne to bring Niagara within three, but that was as close as the Purple Eagles would get. A free-position goal from Fairfield with 4:20 to play was the final goal of the game, a 14-10 decision for Fairfield.

 
Coach's Corner

• Head coach Wendy Stone: "We battled today but made too many mental mistakes that Fairfield capitalized on. There were good plays at both ends of the field, just not enough. The effort was there, we just need to finish plays."

 
Inside the Numbers

• Sophomore Alexis Morales registered her fifth game of the season with four or more points, leading the Purple Eagles offensively with three goals and one assist. She and Rachel MacCheyne are now tied for the team lead with 27 goals apiece in 10 games.
• Grace Hunt now leads the MAAC with 23 assists after picking up three in the second period of Saturday's loss. Hunt's assist total is the eighth-most in a single season in Niagara history, with the program record of 38 set by Sandra Gallegos in 2002.
• Alexandra Higgins had a team-high four ground balls and three caused turnovers to lead the Purple Eagles defensively. She also collected two draw controls to extend her MAAC-leading total to 57.
• Hailey D'Hont tied Higgins for the Niagara team high with a season-high three caused turnovers.
• Andrea Francisco made eight saves on 14 shots on goal in the first half. The senior goalkeeper tied her season-high with 11 saves, giving her 85 on the season.

 
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