NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara looks to build on its 2-0 start to league play when it takes on Quinnipiac Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
• Niagara earned a come-from-behind victory over Canisius on Wednesday, March 30.
• The Purple and White erased a four-goal deficit en route to a 13-12 win over its rival.
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Michelle Messenger made 14 saves and three Purple Eagles recorded natural hat tricks in the win.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara is off to its best-ever start to league play under head coach
Wendy Stone.
• The Purple Eagles are averaging 11.30 goals per contest while allowing 13.20.
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Lois Garlow leads NU with 30 goals, 11 helpers and 41 points. Garlow is currently scoring at a 3.0 goals per game pace.
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Lexi Braniecki scored three times in NU's win on Wednesday and currently sits second on the team with 19 tallies.
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Rachel Crane is third on the team with 17 goals after recording her third hat trick of the year. The midfielder is first on the team with 27 draw controls.
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TaNia Cunningham leads NU with 12 caused turnovers, followed by R. Crane with 11.
• Niagara is third in the MAAC with 173 groundballs, trailing Monmouth and Manhattan for the league lead. Seniors
Jess Foley and Cunningham are tied for the team lead with 21.
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Brenna Duffy scored her first goal of the season against Canisius and currently sits second on the team with nine helpers.
• Seven Purple Eagles have 10 or more points through 10 games.
• Messenger was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week last Monday after making 18 saves in Niagara's 13-10 win over Monmouth. On the season, the senior keeper has 13.01 goals against average and .455 save percentage.
Series History
• Niagara and Quinnipiac will meet for the 11th time on Saturday with the Purple Eagles leading the all-time series 8-2.
• The Purple and White are 8-0 against the Bobcats since Quinnipiac joined the MAAC.
• Niagara won both meetings a season ago, a 14-12 win during the regular season and a dominate 16-11 win in the MAAC quarterfinals.
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles will round out their three-game road swing with a trip to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on Iona on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m.
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