PURPLE EAGLES WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Game 4	Niagara Purple Eagles (2-1, 2-1 MAAC) vs. Iona Gaels (0-4, 0-4 MAAC)
Date	Saturday, March 27 | 4 PM
Location	Niagara Field – Niagara University
Series	Iona Leads 9-6
Streak	Niagara W3
Live Stats	PurpleEagles.com
Live Video	ESPN3 – Frank Gallo
Twitter	@NiagaraWlax
Instagram	@NiagaraWlax

The Niagara women's lacrosse team, winners of two straight, will host the Iona Gaels on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 

SCENE SETTER

• Niagara's match at Manhattan scheduled for March 27 was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Jaspers program.
• As a result, the Purple Eagles will now host the Iona Gaels.
• Niagara swept the Siena Saints in two close meetings last week to improve to 2-1 on the season.  
• The Purple Eagles are 4-0 at home in the last two seasons.
• Niagara trails Iona in the all-time series, but has won four of the last five including three straight. Niagara's 18-9 win in the most recent meeting on April 13, 2019 was the program's largest margin of victory in the series.

MATCH TIDBITS

 

• The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in clearing percentage (.932), free position percentage (.545), shot percentage (.522), and turnovers per game (12.0). NU ranks in the top-10 nationally in clearing percentage (fourth), shot percentage (eighth), and turnovers per game (sixth).
• Shea Swartwout was named MAAC Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week on March 22. She scored 10 goals in two games, including a career-high six goals on March 19.
• Shea Swartwout has scored 14 goals through three games, which are the most to start a season in program history, and her 4.67 goals per game lead the MAAC and are seventh in the nation.
• Lauren Paul is six caused turnovers away from tying the program career record of 89 which is currently held by former teammate Alexandra Higgins (2015-18).
• Lauren Paul is third on the career ground balls list with 128. She is 28 away from tying former teammate Alexandra Higgins.  
• 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 third in the nation at 2.0 free position goals per game.

 

#EaglesTakeFlight

 

• Shea Swartwout moved into 10^th place on the career goals list and surpassed the 100-point mark for her career on March 21. 
• Lauren Paul ranks 16^th among active NCAA Division I athletes in career caused turnovers and 21^st in ground balls.
• 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
• 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.

 
Stay connected with Niagara Women's Lacrosse on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.