NIAGARA UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S LACROSSE
WEEK 10	Niagara Purple Eagles (5-10, 2-4 MAAC) at Canisius Golden Griffins (1-13, 1-5 MAAC)
GAME 16	Wednesday, April 16 | 7:00 PM
LOCATION	Demske Sports Complex – Buffalo, NY
LIVE VIDEO	ESPN+
LIVE STATS	Sidearm Stats

The Niagara women's lacrosse team renews its rivalry with crosstown foe Canisius on Wednesday evening with a lot at stake for both sides. Playoff implications and critical Battle of the Bridge points are on the line with both sides clawing for the upper hand in the final week of the regular season.
 
Playoff Picture

• Niagara currently holds the sixth and final spot in the MAAC tournament with a 2-4 conference record. The highest seed the Purple Eagles can claim in fifth, meaning the team will travel for a first round game should they clinch a spot in the postseason field.
• Monmouth (4-2 MAAC) currently sits in fourth, but should both the Hawks and Purple Eagles finish with identical conference records, Monmouth will be awarded the higher seed based on head-to-head meetings (13-12 loss, March 23).
• Marist (3-3 MAAC) is sitting in the fifth spot but can be passed if Niagara wins out and the Red Foxes lose both of their remaining games. If both teams wind up with matching MAAC marks, Marist will earn the tiebreaker based on head-to-head meetings (17-16 overtime loss, April 10).
• Quinnipiac (2-5 MAAC) is just outside the playoff window in seventh place. Idle on Wednesday, the Bobcats close out their season with a home affair against Monmouth on April 20. Should Quinnipiac and Niagara finish with identical records, the Purple Eagles will earn the tiebreaker based on head-to-head meetings (15-14 win, April 6).
• Canisius (1-5 MAAC) will be eliminated from postseason contention and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007 with a loss in either of their remaining MAAC games OR with a Quinnipiac win on Saturday. The Purple Eagles can knock them out and bolster their own tournament hopes with a victory at Demske Sports Complex tomorrow night.

 
Niagara Notes

• The Purple Eagles have won two of their last three games to keep their tournament hopes afloat down the stretch. Most recently, the Purple Eagles throttled Iona, 18-9, on April 13.
• Rachel MacCheyne was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week following two games that saw the senior tally 16 points (12 G, 4 A) and break several program records. MacCheyne became Niagara's all-time leading goal scorer after a seven-goal effort against Marist on April 10, then became the all-time leader in draw controls while also becoming the first Purple Eagle to eclipse 300 for her career.
• MacCheyne leads the nation in free position goals per game (1.87) and ranks third in the country with 9.20 draw controls per game. She is also eighth nationally with 3.87 goals per game and ninth nationally with 6.13 shots on goal per game.
• Caroline Crump's 14 assists lead the squad while her 38 goals and 52 points both rank second.
• As a whole, Niagara's senior class is responsible for 166 of the team's 241 points (69 percent) and 133 of the team's 186 goals (72 percent).
• A win by the Purple Eagles over Canisius will narrow the gap in the Battle of the Bridge standings to 17-13 with three sports left to compete (men's golf, women's track and field, and baseball). A win by Canisius would give the Griffs the Canal Cup once again.
• The Purple Eagles are 10-17 all-time against Canisius. Niagara won the first 10 meetings between the two sides but have not managed to take one from the Griffs since 2004.

 
Milestone Watch

• Caroline Crump
  • Needs six assists for 20 on the year, which will tie her personal record for the ninth-most successful season in that category.
• Hailey D'Hont
  • Is four caused turnovers away from joining Niagara's career top 10 (45).
• Aubrey DeVeau
  • Needs one save to tie Olivia Schneider (97) and enter Niagara's top 10.
• Rachel MacCheyne
  • Is one caused turnover away from joining Niagara's career top 10.
  • Trails her own school record for goals in a season (60) by just two.
  • Five more points will also give her the single-season record in that category. She currently holds the record with 75, which she set as a sophomore in 2017.
• Amy McNally
  • Is three caused turnovers away from joining Niagara's career top 10.

 
Scouting The Golden Griffins

• Canisius won its first game of the year against Iona on April 6, 15-12. In their most recent outing, the Griffs were outdone by Monmouth, 16-6.
• Jordan Roemer leads all Canisius players in goals (34), assists (16), points (50), shots (63), and shots on goal (52),
• Lauren Gilbert (406:00) and Shannon Maroney (386:42) have taken the bulk of minutes between the pipes for the Griffs this season. Gilbert leads the squad with a goals-against average of 15.81 and a save percentage of .382. Maroney has the lone win as part of a 1-5 record.

 
 
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