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Niagara University Athletics

17WLAXSenior
10
Manhattan MANW 3-9, 0-4 MAAC
13
Winner Niagara NIA 5-7, 2-1 MAAC
Manhattan MANW
3-9, 0-4 MAAC
10
Final
13
Niagara NIA
5-7, 2-1 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Manhattan MANW 4 6 10
Niagara NIA 11 2 13

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

High-Flying First Period Sends Niagara Over Manhattan On Senior Day

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles women's lacrosse team gave the senior class a thrilling Senior Day victory Saturday at Niagara Field. Taking on the Manhattan Jaspers, Niagara closed the first period on an 8-2 run to take a commanding 11-4 halftime lead. The Purple Eagles were able to hold Manhattan off and moved to 2-1 in MAAC play with a 13-10 victory.
 
Game Summary  
Game Recap
  • Senior Hannah Vause scored the game's first goal 4:38 into the contest, converting off a feed from Samantha Brill. Alexis Morales and Manhattan's Kara Hodapp traded goals to put Niagara ahead 2-1 ten minutes into the game.
  • After Shea Swartwout scored a free-position goal for the Purple Eagles at the 16:33 mark, Darby Nolan came back with one for the Jaspers a minute later.
  • At that point, Niagara rattled off five straight goals in a stretch of 4:38 to take an 8-2 advantage. Morales completed her hat trick with two goals in the run, and Caroline Crump, Mackenzie Molodetz, and Rachel MacCheyne also helped Niagara seize the commanding lead.
  • Manhattan's Talia Price broke the run with 2:56 left until halftime, but the Purple Eagles responded with three more goals. Audrey Fithall scored twice in 14 seconds, with Grace Hunt picking up the assists on both tallies, and MacCheyne set up Jillian Ford for a goal before a late Jaspers tally made it 11-4 at halftime.
  • The Jaspers started off the second period looking to cut into the Purple Eagles' lead and outscored Niagara 3-2 over the first 15 minutes after halftime, with Morales and MacCheyne picking up the Niagara goals.
  • Manhattan held Niagara in check after MacCheyne's goal with 15:44 to play, as goalkeeper Nikki Prestiano made six saves in the second period.
  • The Jaspers drew within three after another free-position goal from Nolan with 52 seconds to play, but Niagara won the ensuing draw and closed the game out with a 13-10 victory.
 
Coach's Corner
  • Head coach Wendy Stone: "It doesn't get much better than a conference win on Senior Day. We got off to a great start today, and that made all the difference. We cannot thank Hannah, Andrea, Belle, and Kara for all they have done for our program over the last four years. They've set a high bar for all classes to come."
 
Thank You, Seniors!
  • Niagara's four seniors all had a hand in the victory on Saturday afternoon.
  • Andrea Francisco made a season-high 14 saves in goal, while Kara Martin (two ground balls) and Isabella Leon helped Niagara hold Manhattan to just four first-period goals.
  • Hannah Vause scored the game's first goal, her second of the season, off a feed from Samantha Brill.
 
Inside the Numbers
  • Niagara moved to fourth in the MAAC with a 2-1 conference record following the win.
  • Junior Alexandra Higgins was a leader on the defensive end, tallying a game-high five ground balls, five draw controls, and three caused turnovers. She leads the MAAC with 65 draw controls this season and ranks in the conference's top five with 38 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers.
  • Alexis Morales posted her fourth game of the 2017 season with four or more goals. She and Rachel MacCheyne are tied for the Niagara lead with 33 goals each in their sophomore campaigns.
  • Andrea Francisco made a season-high 14 saves on 24 shots on goal in her fifth win of the season. Francisco came within three saves of her career-high of 17, set last season in a win at Marist on April 5, 2016.
  • The 11 goals scored by Niagara in the first 30 minutes were the team's most in a single period this season.
  • The Purple Eagles committed just 12 turnovers in the win, their lowest single-game total this year.
 
 
Up Next
  • Niagara returns to the road this Wednesday, April 12, for a 4 p.m. matchup against the Siena Saints.
  • After Siena, the Purple Eagles will play their final two games of the regular season at Niagara Field, starting with an 11 a.m. matchup on Saturday, April 15 versus the Monmouth Hawks.
 
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for women's 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.
 
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