NIAGARA UNIVERISTY, NY – The Purple Eagles fell to the visiting Manhattan Jaspers, 12-10, in MAAC women's lacrosse action from Niagara Field Sunday afternoon.
 
Niagara finishes the regular season 9-8 overall and 5-3 in MAAC play while the Jaspers capped off the season 10-7 overall and 4-4 in conference action.
 
Game Recap
First Quarter
• The Jaspers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 3:19 of the game.
• Niagara would score back-to-back goals in just over a one-minute span as Rachel Crane and Andra Savage found the back of the net.
• Manhattan would take a 3-2 lead before the Purple Eagles scored two in a row to take their first lead of the afternoon, 4-3.
• Crane found the back of the net for the second time and Lexi Braniecki found Eliza Wild for NU's fourth tally.
• The Jaspers tied the game with 12 seconds left in the quarter.
 
Second Quarter
• Manhattan scored three-straight to start the second to take a 7-4 lead over the Purple and White.
• Niagara rattled off three goals in a 2:42 span to tie the game at seven.
• Crane started the rally with her third goal of the contest at the 8:58 mark and less than a minute later Jenna Brill beat the Jasper netminder to make it a one goal game.
• Senior Brenna Duffy would find Allison McCormick to even the score at 7-7 with 7:06 to go in the quarter.  
• The game would remain tied at seven heading into the break.
 
Third Quarter
• Niagara took an 8-7 lead to start the second half as Andra Savage scored her second goal of the contest less than two minutes in.
• The Jaspers sparked a 3-0 run to take a 10-8 lead by the 7:49 mark of the quarter.
• Duffy and McCormick connected again to make it a 10-9 Jasper lead with over five minutes remaining in the third.
• Manhattan went back up by two, 11-9, with a woman up goal at the 4:29 mark.
 
Fourth Quarter
• Braniecki who had two assists in the contest coming into the fourth collected her first goal of the afternoon to once again put Niagara down one, 11-10.
• The Jaspers scored with 1:23 to go in the contest to give the game its 12-10 final.
 
Niagara Notes
• For the fourth time under head coach Wendy Stone, Niagara finished 5-3 in league play.   
• The Purple Eagles fin
• With her three goals today, Rachel Crane now has 36 on the season. Sunday was also her eight game of the season with three or more goals.
• Savage and McCormick also found the back of the net twice, their fourth and third multi-goal games, respectively.
• Senior Michelle Messenger made 10 saves for her ninth double-digit saves effort of the season.
• All 11 seniors started for the Purple and White, including backup goalie Maren Geiger at attack.
• Niagara will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship.
 
Up Next
• The Purple and White will host Manhattan for the MAAC Quarterfinals next Saturday, April 30. Game time is TBD.