NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Using a steady combination of unrelenting offense and stifling defense, the Niagara women's lacrosse team made a statement in its first game of the 2019 season by defeating Saint Bonaventure, 17-2. Rachel MacCheyne led all scorers with five goals while freshman Maren Geiger made six saves and earned the win in her first collegiate game.
 
Game Recap

• MacCheyne opened the scoring less than four minutes in with two goals just 13 seconds apart.
• Alex Leo got her first goal 5:03 into the contest.
• For the next 10 minutes, Niagara continued to put pressure on the Bonnies but didn't capitalize until MacCheyne made it a 4-0 game with 13:30 to play in the first half.
• Goals from Alexis Morales, Jenna Brill and Caroline Crump within the next two minutes ballooned the Purple Eagles' lead to 7-0.
• Sophomore Amanda Brown put the ball past for her first career goal with less than five minutes before halftime.
• Hailey D'Hont registered her first goal of the day with 2:22 remaining in the first period.
• 21 seconds later, MacCheyne tallied her fourth of the half to make it 10-0 and let the clock run.
• With eight seconds left before the horn, Leo scored again to make it 11-0 Niagara at the half.
• After the Bonnies got on the board seven minutes into the second, Niagara reeled off four more goals over the next 10 minutes. Crump scored twice in that span, with MacCheyne and Brill netting their fifth and second goals of the game, respectively, to make it 15-1.
• After MacCheyne's goal at the 16:58 mark, Geiger was relieved by sophomore Aubrey DeVeau.
• Saint Bonaventure tallied with 10:24 to play, but D'Hont restored the team's 14-goal lead with 7:50 left. Following the tally, DeVeau was brought out to allow Michelle Messenger a chance to close out the game in goal.
• Brenna Duffy hit the scoresheet for the first time as a Purple Eagle on a free position shot with three seconds to play.

Coach's Corner

• Head coach Wendy Stone: "We were pleased with the effort on both ends of the field for the first game. It's a great place for us to start and build upon going forward.  We will work to get better against Binghamton on Sunday."

Beyond The Boxscore

• Stone moved to 7-0 all-time against Saint Bonaventure in decisive fashion, handing the Bonnies their most lopsided loss ever in 18 head-to-head meetings.
• Dating back to April 7 of last season, Crump has scored at least three goals in seven of the team's last eight games. She led all Niagara scorers with nine hat tricks in 18 contests in 2018.

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles will have a quick turnaround, as they will travel to Binghamton to face the Bearcats on Sunday, Feb. 17. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m.

 
 
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