BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Niagara women's lacrosse team fell to Canisius, 17-7, at Demske Sports Complex on Saturday night to end their season. Defensive lapses and missed shots doomed the Purple Eagles, who were eliminated by the Golden Griffins for the second straight season.
 
Game Summary
Final Score: Canisius Golden Griffins 17, Niagara Purple Eagles 7
Offensive Leaders: Rachel MacCheyne (2G)
Defensive Leaders: Alexandra Higgins (8 DC)
Records: Niagara (8-10, 5-4 MAAC), Canisius (10-8, 7-2 MAAC)
Location: Demske Sports Complex
Attendance: 321
 
Game Recap

• Canisius opened the scoring 1:59 into the game and added two more in the first 4:32 to initiate a goaltending change, bringing Aubrey DeVeau in with the Purple Eagles trailing by three.
• Niagara needed 5:44 to get its first possession on the Canisius half of the field, but used quick ball movement once in Griffs territory to draw a penalty in front of the net, giving Mackenzie Molodetz a free position shot she successfully converted to make it 3-1.
• Grace Hunt converted another free position goal to cut Niagara's deficit to 3-2.
• Canisius scored three more times to set off another Purple Eagles goalie swap with 13:37 remaining in the half, with Olivia Schroeder re-entering down 6-2.
• By halftime, the scoreboard read 9-2 in favor of Canisius after the Griffs kept scoreless over the final 21:53 of the first half.
• Two more goals for the Griffs came early in the second half, but Rachel MacCheyne scored with 5:08 elapsed to end Niagara's 27-minute goalless drought.
• Alexis Morales tallied 32 seconds later to make it 11-4.
• A turnover near midfield by Canisius resulted in another Niagara goal, with a streaking Shea Swartwout taking a pinpoint Grace Hunt pass and finding the back of the net with 6:53 gone in the second.
• Canisius responded with another two goals, prompting yet another keeper switch for the Purple Eagles, who trailed 13-5 with 12:21 off the clock in the second half.
• After the Griffs pushed their lead to 16-5, Niagara made its fourth goalie change of the evening with 10:35 left in the game.
• Caroline Crump ripped a low shot into the Canisius net on a free position to pull Niagara back to within 10.
• After Canisius made its own goaltending change, Rachel MacCheyne tallied once more to give Niagara seven goals on the evening.

Inside The Numbers

• Alexandra Higgins won eight of the team's nine draw controls.
• Caroline Crump led the Purple Eagles with seven shots. Shea Swartwout had a team-high five shots on goal.

 
 
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