GAME 6 |
SCORE |
Niagara Purple Eagles 16, Canisius Golden Griffins 9 |
LEADING SCORERS |
Niagara – Shea Swartwout (5) | Canisius – Marissa Malvaso (4) |
RECORDS |
Niagara (3-3, 3-3 MAAC) | Canisius (1-5, 1-5 MAAC) |
LOCATION |
Demske Sports Complex |
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Purple Eagles dominated the Golden Griffins in a 16-9 win on Tuesday night.
SYNOPSIS
Niagara clicked on the offensive and defensive ends en route to the program's first win over Canisius since 2004, snapping a 17-game losing streak convincingly. The Purple Eagles were efficient on offense – scoring seven goals on their first nine shots – and the defense was smothering throughout the game, holding Canisius to extended scoring droughts.
In the first half,
Shea Swartwout and
Rachel Crane each had hat-tricks, while
Eliza Wild and
Audrey Fithall each scored a pair. Defensively,
Michelle Messenger made five saves as the Golden Griffins had seven turnovers and went 15 minutes between scoring their first and second goals. Swartwout opened the scoring at the 25:47 mark, and after Canisius tied the game one minute later, Niagara 6-0 run over the next 15 minutes. Niagara went into halftime leading 10-3.
Niagara scored four goals to open the second half with
Allison McCormick and
Lois Garlow adding a tally 30 seconds apart for a 12-3 lead with 23:26 remaining. Swartwout, then, added her fourth and fifth goals for a 14-3 lead with 16 minutes remaining. Canisius, which scored its first goal of the half with 15:31 remaining, outscored NU 6-2 in the final 15:31.
Jess Foley scored on her first shot of the season at the 4:27 mark and
Kendall Schneider added a free position goal with 41 seconds remaining to cap the scoring.
EAGLE'S EYE ON…
- Shea Swartwout led the game with five goals and five points. Swartwout, the MAAC's leading scorer, now has 22 goals through five games played.
- Rachel Crane finished with three goals for her fourth straight 3-goal game.
- Eliza Wild's two goals are a career-high.
- Audrey Fithall had season-highs in goals with two and points with three.
- Michelle Messenger had 11 saves.
- Alexandra Leo secured a career-high six draw controls to lead the team.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NU posted season-highs in goals with 16, points with 19, clear attempts with 23, and tied a season-high in saves with 12.
- The Purple Eagles won their first in the series since April 12, 2004.
- Niagara's 16 goals are the most since scoring 18 on March 20, 2003.
- Niagara's 10 first-half goals are the most since scoring 11 against St. Bonaventure on February 15, 2019.
UP NEXT
- The Purple Eagles will host Canisius on Friday at 7 and Sunday at 1 p.m.
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