PURPLE EAGLES WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Game 2-3	Niagara Purple Eagles (0-1, 0-1 MAAC) vs. Siena Saints (3-0, 3-0 MAAC)
Date	Friday, March 19 | 7:00 PM Sunday, March 21 | 12:00 PM
Location	Niagara Field – Niagara University
Series	Niagara Leads 13-10
Streak	Siena W1
Live Stats	PurpleEagles.com
Live Video	Niagara Sports Network – Frank Gallo
Twitter	@NiagaraWlax
Instagram	@NiagaraWlax

The Niagara women's lacrosse team opens its home schedule with a pair of matches against the Siena Saints on Friday and Sunday.
 

SCENE SETTER

 

• The Purple Eagles started the season with a close defeat at Fairfield on March 13.
• The Purple Eagles were picked fifth in the Preseason Coaches Poll after garnering 33 votes.
• Niagara returns 26 of the 28 student-athletes who participated last season when the campaign was ended after seven games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Head coach Wendy Stone, the all-time winningest coach in program history, returns for her ninth season at the helm.
• Niagara was 2-0 at home last season with wins over Merrimack and Saint Francis (PA) before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 13-10, and have won three of the last four meetings. Niagara has won three straight in the series at Niagara Field.

 

MATCH TIDBITS

• Freshman Lexi Braniecki was MAAC Women's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week on March 13. Braniecki scored three goals in her collegiate debut and had one caused turnover in the season opener at Fairfield on March 13
• Lauren Paul is seven caused turnovers away from tying the program career record of 89 which is currently held by former teammate Alexandra Higgins (2015-18).
• Lauren Paul ranks 14^th among active NCAA Division I athletes in career caused turnovers and 26^th in ground balls.
• Through one week of play, the Purple Eagles LEAD the nation in free-position percentage (.800), and third in caused turnovers per game (13.0) and clearing percentage (.952).
• Shea Swartwout scored a team-high four goals in the season opener at Fairfield on March 13. Two of her goals were free position goals which ranks her fifth in the nation at 2.0 free position goals per game.
• Michelle Messenger and Lauren Paul were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Women's Lacrosse team. Messenger was leading the nation in save percentage (.577) through 283 minutes played over seven games before the season was canceled. 

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