EMMITSBURG, MD – Niagara scored seven times in the final quarter of play to earn a 14-10 win over Mount St. Mary's Wednesday afternoon in MAAC women's lacrosse action. The Purple and White improve to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in MAAC play on the season while The Mount moves to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in league play.
 
Rachel Crane led the Niagara attack with six goals, followed by Lexi Braniecki with three, and Andra Savage with two while  Lois Garlow, Maddy Gill, and Annie Steigerwald each tallied one. Braniecki finished with a team-best two assists for a total of five points. Jordan Roy made the start in goal for the Purple Eagles, making eight saves.
 
The Mount saw seven players find the back of the net in the contest, with Anna Salerno leading the way with three goals and an assist. Hailey Chester scored twice in the loss while Ashlyn Watkins made four saves on 14 Niagara shots.
 
How it Happened
Mount St. Mary's would get on the board first four and a half minutes into the contest, but the Purple Eagles would be the team ahead by the end of the first quarter scoring three goals in the final 6:07 of the frame to take a 3-1 lead into the second.
 
Niagara's run would continue as they held Mount St. Mary's off the scoreboard in the second quarter while Braniecki and Steigerwald notched goals for the Purple Eagles giving them a 5-1 lead at the break.
 
The Purple and White would score twice to open the second half, the first coming 18-seconds into the third as Braniecki and Garlow teamed up for the goal.
 
Mount St. Mary's then tallied six-straight over the final seven and a half minutes of the stanza, tying the game at seven with 39-seconds remaining in the third.
 
With the game tied at eight, four and a half minutes into the fourth, the Niagara offense would come alive, striking for six-unanswered goals of its own, including three from Crane and another two from Savage, giving NU a 14-8 lead with 1:43 to play.
 
Mount would score twice in the final 1:43, giving the game its 14-10 final.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 3-4 all-time against Mount St. Mary's, including 2-0 in MAAC play.
• Crane became the third different Purple Eagle to record six goals in a game this season.
• Braniecki now has eight multi-goal games this season.
• As a team, Niagara caused 13 turnovers, with Crane and Huhtala leading the way with three apiece.
• Huhtala recorded her eighth game this season with at least three caused turnovers.
• Huhtala also led Niagara on the draw with six controls, matching her season-high set against Le Moyne on Feb. 28.
• Roy finished the game with five ground balls, her fourth game this season with five or more ground balls.
• Niagara finished 17-for-18 on clear attempts.
 
Up Next
The Purple Eagles return home to take on Manhattan at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 30. The game will be streamed live on PurpleEagles.com.
 
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