Women's Lacrosse Preps for Battle of the Bridge

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple Eagles look to build off their first MAAC win of the season when they travel to Demske Sports Complex in downtown Buffalo to take on Battle of the Bridge Rival Canisius. The opening draw between the Purple Eagles and Golden Griffins is set for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

Last Time Out
• Niagara defeated the Monmouth Hawks 13-10 Saturday afternoon on Monteagle Ridge.
• Senior Michelle Messenger stopped 18 shots, and Lois Garlow scored five goals to pace NU in its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game of the season.
• Lexi Braniecki added three goals in the win, followed by Lucy Rugaber with two tallies and Eliza Wild, Jaclyn Crane, and Rachel Crane with one apiece.

Niagara Notes
• Niagara enters Wednesday with a 5-4 record overall and 1-0 in league play.
• The Purple and White are scoring 11.11 goals per game, led by Garlow, scoring an average of 3.0 goals per contest.
• Senior goalie Michelle Messenger was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week after her 18 save outing against Monmouth this past weekend.
• Garlow leads Niagara with 27 goals, 10 assists, and 37 points. The junior midfielder has scored two or more goals in eight of Niagara's nine contests.
• Braniecki is second on the Purple Eagles with 16 goals after finding the back of the net three times in the win over Monmouth. Braniecki now has three games this season with three or more goals.
• Messenger enters Wednesday with three games this season with 10 or more saves, and her 18 stops against the Hawks is a season-high. Messenger stopped a career-high 20 against Louisville back in 2020.
• Niagara has recorded assists on 38 goals this season, with Garlow posting a team-high 10 helpers. Attack Brenna Duffy is second on the team with seven and has two multi-assist games this season. Braniecki and R. Crane are tied for third on the team with four assists.
• The Purple Eagles have recorded 159 ground balls through nine games, second-most in the MAAC entering Wednesday night. TaNia Cunningham and Jess Foley lead Niagara with 20 groundballs apiece.
• Niagara's 81 caused turnovers is second in the MAAC, trailing only Monmouth (91). Seven Purple Eagles have five or more caused turnovers, led by 11 from R. Crane and TaNia Cunningham. Foley has eight caused turnovers, followed by Garlow with seven, Mackenzie Bushnell and Mickey Knapp with six, and J. Crane with five.
• R. Crane has a team-best 24 draw controls, followed by Braniecki with 23. Garlow and J. Crane are tied for third on the squad with 11 draws apiece.

Series History
• Niagara and Canisius will meet for the 31st time Wednesday night, with Canisius leading the all-time series 17-13.
• The Purple Eagles are currently on a three-game win streak against the Griffs, winning all three matchups a season ago.
• The win on April 13, 2021, was the first over Canisius since 2004.

Up Next
•. Niagara will travel to Hamden, Conn., to take on Quinnipiac Saturday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Lexi Braniecki: A; Sophomore

#27 Mackenzie Bushnell: D; Junior

#21 Rachel Crane: M; Junior

#44 TaNia Cunningham: D; 5' 3"; Senior

#18 Brenna Duffy: A; 5' 8"; Senior

#22 Jess Foley: D; 5' 7"; Senior

#2 Lois Garlow: A; 5' 8"; Junior

#5 Mickey Knapp: D; Junior

#13 Michelle Messenger: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#8 Lucy Rugaber: A; Junior

Players Mentioned

#3 Lexi Braniecki
: Sophomore
: A

#27 Mackenzie Bushnell
: Junior
: D

#21 Rachel Crane
: Junior
: M

#44 TaNia Cunningham
: 5' 3"; Senior
: D

#18 Brenna Duffy
: 5' 8"; Senior
: A

#22 Jess Foley
: 5' 7"; Senior
: D

#2 Lois Garlow
: 5' 8"; Junior
: A

#5 Mickey Knapp
: Junior
: D

#13 Michelle Messenger
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#8 Lucy Rugaber
: Junior
: A