NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara looks to improve to 2-0 on the young season when it takes on No. 18 Jacksonville Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville, Fla.
 
Last Time Out
• Niagara defeated Stetson, 11-10, in its season opener Thursday evening in DeLand, Fla. The Purple Eagles' first season-opening win since 2019 over St. Bonaventure.
• Lexi Braniecki recorded the natural hat trick and Lois Garlow tallied two goals and two assists in the win.  
• Lucy Rugaber and Allison McCormick also recorded a pair of tallies, while Rachel Crane and Kendall Schneider added one goal each.
• Preseason All-MAAC selection, Michelle Messenger finished the game with six saves.
• TaNia Cunningham led NU with three draw controls and three gound balls.
• Mickey Knapp led the Purple and White with two caused turnovers.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara was selected fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and had three Preseason All-MAAC selections, including defending MAAC Rookie of the Year Rachel Crane, and MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Michelle Messenger.
• Braniecki also received preseason recognition from the conference.
• Braniecki and Crane are NU's returning point scorers from a year ago as both registered 36 points. Braniecki scored 29 goals and assisted seven others, while Crane tallied 30 goals and six helpers.
• Messenger was the best goalie in the MAAC a season ago, finishing the season with a goals against average of 10.33 and a save percentage of .536. The netminder was tabbed by Inside Lacrosse to be the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Year.
• The Purple and White picked up their first winning season since 2004 in 2021, winning eight total games en route to reaching the MAAC semifinals.
• Niagara returns four All-MAAC selections from a year ago, including Braniecki, Crane, Messenger, and TaNia Cunningham.
• The Purple and White averaged 12.08 points per game in 2021, making 43.3 percent of their shots. Of Niagara's 157 goals scored, 46 came on free-position attempts.
• Jess Foley led Niagara with 15 caused turnovers in 2021, and she was one of five Purple Eagles to record 10 or more.
• Niagara's leader on the draw was Lois Garlow, who recorded 31 draw controls a year ago. Cunningham was second on the team with 28.
• Niagara had eight players register 10-plus ground balls on the season, led by Messenger's 46. Foley recorded 21 ground balls in 2021, followed by Cunningham and Crane with 19 and 18, respectively. 
 
Up Next
• The Purple and White will return to the Empire State and travel to West Point to take on Army on Thursday, Feb. 24. Opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
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