GAME 5
SCORE	Monmouth Hawks 15, Niagara Purple Eagles 12
LEADING SCORERS	Monmouth – Allison Turturro (4) | Niagara – Rachel Crane (3)
RECORDS	Monmouth (5-2, 5-2 MAAC) | Niagara (2-3, 2-3 MAAC)
LOCATION	Kessler Stadium

 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Niagara Purple Eagles were defeated by the Monmouth Hawks, 15-12, on Saturday afternoon.

SYNOPSIS
Despite a gritty effort by the Purple Eagles, the hosts pulled away in the latter stages of the second half.
 
Eliza Wild opened the scoring 88 seconds into the contest. After the Hawks scored three straight goals over the next eight minutes, the Purple Eagles tied the game with goals from Lexi Braniecki and Lois Garlow with 14:30 left in the opening half.
 
Monmouth's Allison Turturro answered with consecutive goals to start a 4-1 run for the Hawks for a 7-4 lead with 59 seconds remaining in the first half. Tania Cunningham caused a turnover and scored on the ensuing possession as NU went into halftime trailing 7-5. Cunningham's goal started a string of three straight for the Purple Eagles. Garlow scored her second and Allison McCormick tied the game at 7-7 at the 26-minute mark. The Hawks broke the tie with two goals in 32 seconds.
 
Alina Del Toro scored her first goal of the season to bring Niagara within one goal at 9-8 with 17 minutes left, but the Hawks went on another 4-1 run to build a 13-9 lead with 8:36 left. Crane scored Niagara's final three goals to finish as the team's top scorer for the second straight game.
 
EAGLE'S EYE ON…

• Rachel Crane led Niagara in goals with three, shots with nine, shots on goal with six, ground balls with four and caused turnovers with two. She shared team-high marks in points with three and free position goals with two.
• Lois Garlow scored twice and added an assist to tie a career-high in points with three.
• Lexi Braniecki scored two goals.
• Michelle Messenger tied a season-high in saves with 12. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Eight different Purple Eagles scored.
• Niagara had season-highs in man-up goals (3), grounds balls (30), clears (21), and caused turnovers (14).

UP NEXT

• The Purple Eagles are back in action with a pair of home matches against Canisius on April 16 and 18.

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