Women's Lacrosse 4/15/2022 12:26:00 PM

Women's Lacrosse Welcomes Fairfield and Louisville to Monteagle Ridge

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Niagara women's lacrosse team will host defending MAAC Champion Fairfield Saturday, April 16, and ACC foe Louisville on Monday, April 18, to conclude its three-game homestand. The opening draw for both games is scheduled for noon on ESPN+.

Last Time Out
• The Purple Eagles defeated Marist 16-10 on Wednesday to improve to 3-0 at home.
• Michelle Messenger recorded her fifth-consecutive game with double-digit saves, finishing with 13.
• Lois Garlow led Niagara with four goals, her sixth game scoring at least four times, while Rachel Crane picked up her fourth-straight game with three or more tallies.

Niagara Notes
• With its win on Wednesday, Niagara improved to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in league play and currently sits in sole possession of first place in the MAAC.
• Niagara averages 11.69 goals per game and has a shot on goal percentage of 76.3 percent.
• Garlow leads the team in goals (38), assists (14), and free-position goals (9). The junior enters the weekend with 11 multi-goal games this season.
• Lexi Braniecki and Rachel Crane are tied for second on the team with 27 tallies. The duo is also second and third on the squad with 35 and 34 points.
• With a goal in each of her last two games, Allison McCormick became the seventh Purple Eagle to reach double-digit goals on the season, joining Jaclyn Crane (11), Andra Savage (11), Lucy Rugaber (14), Rachel Crane, Braniecki and Garlow.
• Brenna Duffy is second on the team with 10 helpers this season. The senior recorded a season-high three goals in Niagara's win over Marquette.
• Three Purple Eagles have 25 or more ground balls on the season, led by 29 from Jess Foley. Michelle Messenger is second on the team with 27, followed by TaNia Cunningham with 25.
• Cunningham has a team-best 16 caused turnovers and recorded a season-high three last Saturday at Iona.
• Rachel Crane and Lexi Braniecki are NU's leaders on the draw, collecting 32 and 30, respectively.
• Two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, Messenger is first in the MAAC with a .485 save percentage. Her goals against average of 12.52 is fifth in the league and she is second in the league with 9.75 saves per contest.

Series History: Fairfield
• Niagara and Fairfield will meet for the 26th time on Saturday, with Fairfield holding a 24-1 series lead over the Purple and White.
• The two teams last met in the 2021 MAAC Semifinals with the Stags coming out on top, 15-10.
• Niagara's only win over Fairfield came on April 23, 2016 by the final score of 9-7.

Series History: Louisville
• The Purple and White will square off against Louisville for the second time in the last three years.
• Louisville took the first meeting between the two schools, 17-7.

Up Next
• The Purple Eagles will play its final road game of the regular season on Thursday, April 21 at Siena. The opening draw between NU and the Saints is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Loudonville, N.Y.

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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

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

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

#10 Allison McCormick: M; 5' 4"; Senior

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

#8 Lucy Rugaber: A; Junior

#11 Andra Savage: M; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

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

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

#10 Allison McCormick
: 5' 4"; Senior
: M

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

#8 Lucy Rugaber
: Junior
: A

#11 Andra Savage
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: M