NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – With 13 saves from Emma Mielke, seven assists from Riley Latray, and six goals from Lexi Braniecki the Purple Eagles (5-1) earned a 13-12 win over visiting Binghamton (2-4) on Sunday in non-conference women's lacrosse action from Niagara Field.
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Game Recap
First Quarter
• Niagara scored first, taking a 1-0 lead over Binghamton on Jaclyn Crane's first goal of the season 1:23 into the contest.
• After Binghamton tied the game at 1-1, Riley Latray would find Andra Savage for the go-ahead score with 8:03 on the clock.
• Lois Garlow would score her first goal of the afternoon on a free-position shot with 3:46 remaining in the first stanza.
• Binghamton made it a 3-2 game with less than three minutes to go, before J. Crane found Lexi Braniecki for Niagara's fourth goal as the game clock hit zero.  
 
Second Quarter
• Braniecki would start the second with her second tally of the game after receiving the pass from Latray.
• With NU up 5-2, Garlow would once again convert on the free position chance to give the Purple Eagles a 6-2 advantage.
• Jenna Brill went upper-90 for her lone goal of the contest, giving Niagara a five-goal lead, 7-2. Latray was credited with her third assist of the afternoon on the play
• The Bearcats would tally back-to-back goals to end the half and make it a 7-4 game at the break.
 
Third Quarter
• Binghamton would score twice more to start quarter number three, pulling within one of Niagara, 7-6.
• Braniecki would give Niagara back its two-goal margin with her third goal of the game and 11th of the season.
• After Binghamton got the score back within one, 8-7, Niagara's Garlow found the back of the net for the third time to give Niagara a two-point cushion heading into the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
• The Bearcats tied the game at nine with 12:56 to go in the contest, but the Purple and White would respond with a 4-0 run to take a 13-9 lead with 4:01 to play.
• Braniecki tallied three of the four goals during the run, including a pair of free-position goals.
• Rachel Crane joined the scoring column with her first of the contest to help NU go up by four.
• Binghamton would score three times in a minute and a half span to make it a 13-12 game.
• Niagara's defense, led by goalie Emma Mielke would hold strong and secure the one-goal win for the Purple Eagles.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 8-8 all-time against Binghamton with wins in the last four meetings.
• Latray's seven assists are a career-high for the junior and give her 20 for the season, tied for ninth all-time.
• Braniecki tallied a career-best six goals surpassing her previous career-high of five as a freshman.
• Mielke made 13 saves in the win, becoming the first Purple Eagle netminder to tally double-digit saves since Messenger stopped 15 against Manhattan in the MAAC Quarterfinal contest in 2022.
• Niagara had 29 shots, with 21 going on target.
• The Purple and White went 18-for-18 on clear attempts, caused six turnovers, and won 11-of-28 draw controls.
• Freshman Maddy Gill caused two turnovers, and R. Crane led NU with three ground balls.
 
Up Next
• Niagara travels to Denver, Colorado to take on No. 11 Denver on Thursday, March 8 at 6 p.m. ET/4 p.m. MT.
 
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