Women's Lacrosse 4/12/2022 12:00:00 PM

Women's Lacrosse Hosts Marist for First of Three Straight Home Games

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Niagara women's lacrosse program returns to Monteagle Ridge to take on Marist in the first of three-straight home games. The Purple Eagles and Red Foxes contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. opening draw at Niagara Field.

Last Time Out
• Niagara fell in its most recent contest at Iona, 16-14.
• The loss ended Niagara's three-game win streak to start MAAC play.
• Lexi Braniecki led Niagara with five goals, followed by Rachel Crane with four.

Niagara Notes
• The Purple Eagles enter Wednesday in a three-way tie for the top spot in the MAAC with Fairfield and Manhattan.
• Niagara is averaging 11.33 goals per game this season, led by junior Lois Garlow, who has 34 tallies entering Wednesday.
• Garlow also leads the Purple and White in assists (13), points (47), shots on goal (51), game-winning goals (3), and free-position goals (9). The junior has recorded 10 multi-goal games this season.
• The attack ranks fifth in the MAAC in goals (2.83) and points per game (3.92).
• With her five goals against Iona, Braniecki joins Garlow as the only Purple Eagle to record five tallies in a contest. Braniecki now has six games with three or more goals.
• Five Purple Eagles have recorded 10 or more goals this season, led by Garlow's 34. Braniecki is second on the team with 25, Crane with 24, Lucy Rugaber with 13, and Jaclyn Crane with 10.
• Freshman Jaclyn Crane recorded her second multi-goal game of the season at Iona.
• Senior Brenna Duffy is second on the squad with 10 assists, and Rachel Crane is third with seven helpers.
• Two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week Michelle Messenger has a MAAC best .475 save percentage. The senior also has the seventh-best goals-against average in the conference at 12.78.
• Senior TaNia Cunningham is seventh in the MAAC with 1.36 caused turnovers per game. The defender has 15 caused turnovers, which ranks ninth in the league.
• As a team, Niagara ranks third in the MAAC with 209 ground balls and sixth with 106 caused turnovers.

Series History
• The Purple and White hold a 9-17 record all-time against Marist and are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings with the Red Foxes.
• Niagara picked up a 12-11 road win over Marist last season.
• Four of the last five meetings with the Red Foxes have been decided by one goal. Niagara is 2-2 in those contests.

Up Next
• Niagara will play defending MAAC Champion Fairfield on Saturday, April 16 at noon.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Lexi Braniecki: A; Sophomore

#21 Rachel Crane: M; Junior

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

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

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

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

#8 Lucy Rugaber: A; Junior

#37 Jaclyn Crane: M; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Lexi Braniecki
: Sophomore
: A

#21 Rachel Crane
: Junior
: M

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

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

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

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

#8 Lucy Rugaber
: Junior
: A

#37 Jaclyn Crane
: Freshman
: M