NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Senior midfielder Alexis Morales made history by scoring a milestone goal in Niagara's 17-13 loss at Bryant on Saturday afternoon. Entering the contest with 97 career tallies, Morales netted her first hat trick of the season to become the sixth player in program history to reach the 100-goal plateau.
 
Game Recap

• The Purple Eagles roared out to an early lead when Shea Swartwout put the team up just 40 seconds into the contest. 
• Less than two minutes later, Rachel MacCheyne was awarded a free position shot and successfully converted to double Niagara's lead.
• With Niagara in a man-up situation less than five minutes in, Swartwout earned a free position attempt and slotted it for her sixth goal of the year, giving the Purple Eagles a 3-0 edge.
• Nearly eight minutes went by without a tally before Bryant went on a quick 3-0 spurt to level the score, but MacCheyne's second free position strike of the game with 13:22 on the clock restored the team's lead.
• Morales made it 5-5 with 8:43 to play on another successful free position attempt.
• Both teams continued to trade goals, with Bryant going ahead with its sixth goal before MacCheyne got her sixth hat trick of the season on yet another free position goal.
• Coming out of the halftime break, Caroline Crump dished out assists on three consecutive Niagara goals by Morales, Hailey D'Hont, and Swartwout, respectively. The Swartwout tally made it a 10-9 Bryant lead.
• Swartwout and MacCheyne each notched their fourth goals of the game 14 seconds apart to pull the Purple Eagles to within one, 12-11, yet again.
• Another Bulldogs goal put the home team back up by two, Audrey Fithall made her mark on the scoresheet with Niagara's 12th goal of the day, a man-up shot with 11 minutes left in regulation.
• With four seconds left on the clock, Morales pocketed her third goal of the game, her sixth of the season and 100th of her career. The senior became just the sixth member of the 100-goal club, and the third current player to break the barrier (MacCheyne, Crump).

Defensive Spotlight

• Lauren Paul once again led the Niagara back end, picking up five ground balls and causing two turnovers.
• Alex Leo recorded four ground ball pickups and added one caused turnover.
• Maren Geiger made 19 saves (.543 SV%) in 55 minutes of work.

Coach's Corner
"Today was a battle and an improvement on Thursday's effort. We started strong and made adjustments, we just didn't finish. We look forward to working and getting better next time out." – head coach Wendy Stone.

Up Next

• Niagara heads south to end their four-game road trip when the team clashes with UMass in DeLand, Florida on March 13. Opening draw is slated for 12 p.m. from the campus of Stetson University.

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