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The Purple Eagles women's lacrosse team, which wrapped up non-conference play on Tuesday at Michigan, returns to Niagara Field for the first of six MAAC games to close the 2017 regular season. Niagara hosts the Manhattan Jaspers for their second of four home games this month, a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday, April 8.
 
Niagara will honor its four graduating players for Senior Day with a pregame ceremony. Andrea Francisco, Isabella Leon, Kara Martin, and Hannah Vause will be joined by their families and recognized for their contributions to the women's lacrosse program over the past four years.
 
Senior Day
 

• The Purple Eagles will honor seniors Andrea Francisco, Isabella Leon, Kara Martin, and Hannah Vause with a pregame ceremony for Senior Day at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Saturday.
• Francisco has led Niagara in goal for the last four years, playing in 61 games and making 56 starts. A team captain this year, she ranks third all-time at Niagara in goals-against average (11.96) and fourth in saves (402). Francisco was named Second-Team All-MAAC after setting career highs with a 9.92 goals-against average, .410 save percentage, and nine wins in 2016. She is also a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree.
• Leon has played in 22 games and made her first three career starts this season. She has represented the team on Niagara's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years and has been a leader in organizing the team's games to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and the P.U.N.T. Foundation. She was named to the 2015 and 2016 MAAC All-Academic Teams.
• A two-year team captain, Martin is Niagara's program record holder with 132 ground balls and 57 caused turnovers in her four-year career. She led Niagara in ground balls twice, collecting 30 in 2014 and 44 in 2015. Martin was named to the 2016 Preseason All-MAAC Team, the 2015 All-MAAC Second Team, and the 2014 MAAC All-Rookie Team. She was also named to the 2016 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in addition to being a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team member.
• Vause has been a leader in Niagara's community service efforts, most notably with S.A.B.A.H. and Team IMPACT. She has played 31 games at attack and scored her first career goal Feb. 20 against St. Bonaventure.

 
Last Time Out

• On Tuesday, the Purple Eagles traveled to Michigan Stadium for a third consecutive season, wrapping up their non-conference schedule against the Michigan Wolverines.
• After an early 4-0 deficit, Niagara scored three unanswered goals to draw within one late in the first period. Michigan scored twice in the final 41 seconds to go until halftime and outscored Niagara 13-7 in the second period as the Purple Eagles fell 20-10.
• Rachel MacCheyne tied a season-high with five points to lead the Niagara offense, scoring four goals and adding one assist. Fellow sophomores Caroline Crump and Alexis Morales added a pair of goals.
• Alexandra Higgins tallied season-highs in ground balls (five) and caused turnovers (four) at Michigan, adding three draw controls. Lauren Paul also tied her season- and career-high with four ground balls, while Kara Martin added two ground balls and two caused turnovers.

 
On the Field: Niagara Purple Eagles (4-7, 1-1 MAAC)

• Niagara is currently tied for fifth in the MAAC after opening conference play with an 11-9 road win over Iona and a 14-10 home loss to Fairfield.
• Sophomores Rachel MacCheyne and Alexis Morales are two of the top five goal scorers in the MAAC. MacCheyne is third with 31 goals, followed by Morales in fifth at 29.
• Grace Hunt is tied for second in the MAAC with 24 assists in 11 games. The Purple Eagles are one of the conference's leaders in assists per game, ranking second at 5.55.
• On a points-per-game basis, Hunt, MacCheyne, and Morales all rank in the top 10 of the MAAC. MacCheyne is fourth at 3.45 points per game, while Hunt and Morales are tied for eighth with 3.0 points per game.
• Junior Alexandra Higgins leads Niagara in all three major defensive categories with 33 ground balls, 60 draw controls, and 21 caused turnovers. Higgins is one of two players to rank in the top five of the MAAC in all three categories, ranking first in draw controls, third in caused turnovers, and tied for fourth in ground balls.
• Midfielder Jillian Ford is second to Higgins among Niagara players with 30 draw controls and 18 caused turnovers. She is fourth on the team with 20 ground balls and is fifth in scoring at the offensive end with 18 points (13+5).
• Kara Martin is second on Niagara and ninth in the MAAC with 26 ground balls this season, adding 14 caused turnovers and two draw controls.
• In goal, Andrea Francisco is 4-7 with a 12.32 goals-against average and a career-high .448 save percentage.

 
On the Field: Manhattan Jaspers (3-8, 0-3 MAAC)

• Manhattan currently ranks eighth in the MAAC with five conference games remaining on the schedule. The Jaspers are 3-8 on the season with wins over Saint Mary's, LIU Brooklyn, and Sacred Heart.
• The Jaspers hold a 13-7 lead in the all-time series with the Purple Eagles, but Niagara is 3-2 in the last five matchups, including an 18-12 win in their last home game against Manhattan in 2015.
• Molly Fitzpatrick leads the Manhattan attack. Her team-high 27 goals and 36 points rank sixth and seventh, respectively, among all MAAC players. Sarah Lang and Kara Hodapp are tied for the Manhattan lead with 10 assists each this season.
• Defensively, sophomore Emma Kaishian leads the Jaspers and is seventh in the conference with 28 ground balls, adding 17 draw controls and 12 caused turnovers.
• Midfielder Caitlin Murphy is third on Manhattan with 19 points (14+5), adding 19 ground balls, 32 draw controls, and 11 caused turnovers.
• Nikki Prestiano has started all 11 games for Manhattan this season, going 3-8 with an 11.86 goals-against average and .459 save percentage.

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