Women's Lacrosse 4/8/2022 11:02:00 AM

Women's Lacrosse Travels to Iona

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Niagara women's lacrosse team looks to build on its 3-0 start to MAAC play when it travels to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on Iona Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

Last Time Out
• Niagara is coming off a 9-8 road win over Quinnipiac last Saturday.
• Michelle Messenger made 17 saves in the win, and Lois Garlow paced the Niagara attack with four goals against the Bobcats.
• Rachel Crane (3), Lexi Braniecki (1), and Lucy Rugaber (1) scored the other five goals for the Purple Eagles.
• Niagara finished the contest 15-for-19 on clears and won 12 of the game's 21 draws.
• The Purple and White also picked up 16 ground balls, and four caused turnovers in the win.

Niagara Notes
• Senior Michelle Messenger was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second-straight time last Monday. She recorded 32 saves to help Niagara finish the week 2-0 and start MAAC play 3-0 for the first time in program history.
• Messenger leads the MAAC and is 21st in the nation with a .484 save percentage. She is fifth in league with a 12.38 goals against average.
• Junior Lois Garlow has 34 goals through 11 games this season, becoming the first Purple Eagle to collect 30-plus goals through 11 games since Rachel MacCheyne tallied 38 during her record-setting 2019 season.
• Garlow also leads the team with 12 assists and 46 points. Nine of the attack's 34 goals have come via free position attempts.
• Sophomore Lexi Braniecki and redshirt-sophomore Rachel Crane have recorded 20 tallies this season, with each Purple Eagle posting six multi-goal games.
• When it comes to assists, Niagara averages 4.36 per contest, led by Garlow's 12. Brenna Duffy also has double-digit assists with 10. The senior attack has three games with two or more helpers, including a season-high three in NU's win over Marquette.
• Senior captain Jess Foley leads Niagara with 22 ground balls, followed by TaNia Cunningham with 21 and Messenger with 16.
• Cunningham, a 2021 All-MAAC second-team selection, leads NU with 12 caused turnovers, followed by teammate R. Crane with 11.
• Crane is also the team leader with 28 draw controls. Braniecki is second on the squad with 25.
• As a team, Niagara averages 11.09 goals per game while allowing 12.73 per contest. The Purple Eagles scored a season-high 17 times at Old Dominion.

Series History
• The two MAAC rivals have met 16 times, with Iona leading the all-time series 10-6.
• Niagara has won three of the last four meetings against the Gaels.
• Iona won the 2021 meeting between the two programs, despite Niagara getting six goals from Rachel Crane.
• Niagara won 18-9 the last time the two teams met in New Rochelle.

Up Next
• Niagara will return to Monteagle Ridge for a three-game homestand to take on Marist, Fairfield, and Louisville. The Purple Eagles and the Red Foxes contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start Wednesday, April 13, on ESPN+.

Stay connected with Niagara Women's Lacrosse on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.

Print Friendly Version

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

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

#8 Lucy Rugaber: A; Junior

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

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

#8 Lucy Rugaber
: Junior
: A