GREENVILLE, N.C. – Eight goals in the third quarter helped Niagara (4-2) earn a 14-13 win over East Carolina Saturday evening in non-conference women's lacrosse action.
Andra Savage scored four goals on four shots, while
Rachel Crane and
Lois Garlow each added two goals and two assists to aid the Niagara attack.
Michelle Messenger made eight saves in 57 minutes of work in the cage.
Game Recap
First Quarter
• Rachel Crane and Eliza Wild scored for Niagara in the opening stanza, but ECU would be out in front after the first 15 minutes of action.
• The Pirates scored the game's first goal before Crane tied it at one for NU with 8:48 on the clock.
• ECU responded with two goals in 12 seconds to go up by two, 3-1.
• Wild made it a 3-2 game with 3:14 remaining in the first, but ECU once again scored back-to-back goals, giving it a 5-2 lead over Niagara after one.
Second Quarter
• Niagara's Andra Savage scored the first goal of the second quarter, putting Niagara within two, 5-3.
• ECU and the Purple Eagles would trade goals over the final 8:43 with Garlow and Savage, each netting a goal for NU.
• Despite Niagara outscoring ECU 3-2 in the frame, the Pirates still held on to a two-goal lead going into the break.
Third Quarter
• Niagara opened the second half with four-straight goals. Allison McCormick (2), Rachel Crane, and Jenna Brill each found the back of the net to give NU a 9-7 lead.
• The Pirates put an end to the Purple Eagle run with a goal at the 9:34 mark of the third. However, Savage scored her third goal to put Niagara back up by two, 10-8, 39-seconds later.
• ECU scored two of the game's following three goals to make the score 11-10 in favor of Niagara with 3:24 remaining in the third.
• The Purple Eagles closed the quarter with back-to-back goals, one from Garlow and Jaclyn Crane with 35 seconds left.
Fourth Quarter
• Niagara entered the final period of play with a three-goal advantage, 13-10.
• Savage recorded her fourth goal of the contest at the 9:17 mark of the fourth, giving NU a 14-11 lead over the Pirates.
• The score would hold at 14-12 from the 8:03 to 0:52 mark of the quarter when the Pirates made it a one-goal game in the final minute.
• Jenna Brill would win the ensuing draw control and hold on for the 14-13 win in Greenville, N.C.
Niagara Notes
• Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between the Purple Eagles and Pirates.
• Savage became the third Purple Eagle this season to record at least four goals in a game. The sophomore transfer took four shots to score her four goals.
• Niagara improves to 4-2 on the season, its best six-game start to a season since 2006 when it started with the same record through six games.
• The Purple and White finished the game with 16 shots on goal, 13 draw controls, 15-for-20 on clear attempts, and five caused turnovers.
• Rachel Crane won a team-best seven draw controls, followed by Brill with three.
• Rachel Crane, Garlow, and McCormick also recorded multi-goal games.
• Mara Hathaway and Savage led NU with three caused turnovers. Hathaway also led the team with four ground balls.
Up Next
• Niagara will travel to Norfolk, Va., to take on Old Dominion on March 18 at noon. The game will be streamed live on ODUSports.com.
