NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Five Purple Eagles recorded multiple goals as Niagara (9-2, 2-1 MAAC) recorded a 14-6 win over Manhattan (3-8, 0-3 MAAC) Saturday afternoon in MAAC women's lacrosse action from Niagara Field.
 
Lexi Braniecki and Andra Savage both recorded a hat trick in the win while Lois Garlow, Maddy Gill, and Rachel Crane each found the back of the net twice. Riley Latray and Annie Steigerwald tallied one goal with Latray recording a team-high four assists. Jordan Roy stopped eight of 14 shots faced and Sydney Huhtala recorded team-highs with four caused turnovers and seven ground balls.
 
The Jaspers had five different goal scorers, led by a pair of tallies from Ava Fernandes. Ashely Gambardella, the Manhattan goalie, made 15 saves in the loss.
 
How it Happened
It was a defensive first-half for both teams as there were just a combined six goals compared to a total of 20 turnovers in the first 30-minutes of action.
 
The Jaspers scored the first goal of the contest and would have a 2-1 lead at the end of the first as Crane was the lone Purple Eagle to find the back of the net in the first 15-minutes of play.
 
Niagara would score twice in the second quarter, both from Garlow, with the second goal tying the game at 3-3 with 2:20 remaining in the half.
 
Savage would give Niagara its first lead of the contest when Latray found the Palmyra, N.Y., native at the 11:34 mark of the third. The lead wouldn't last long as Manhattan tied the game at four 31-seconds later.
 
Just over three minutes later, Latray and Braniecki would score back-to-back goals in a 28-second span to give Niagara a 6-4 lead, the first multi-goal lead for either team in the contest.
 
Manhattan would get one back before the third quarter came to a close, making it a 6-5 game heading into the final 15-minutes of play.
 
Savage and Crane got the final stanza started for Niagara, giving it an 8-5 lead over Manhattan. The Jaspers final goal of the contest came at the 10:36 mark of the contest.
 
Niagara would then take control of all facets of the contest winning four of the final six draw controls and causing four turnovers in the final 10-minutes of play while watching the offense go on a 6-0 run.
 
Steigerwald got the run started with a shorthanded goal, followed by a tally from Savage to give Niagara a 10-6 advantage.
 
Gill and Braniecki would each score two in the final six minutes to give the game its 14-6 final.  
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara moves to 11-18 all-time against Manhattan with Saturday's win at Niagara Field being its first over Manhattan at home since April 8, 2017.
• Niagara recorded season-highs in shots (39), caused turnovers (17), and successful clears (20).
• Huhtala led Niagara with four caused turnovers, her ninth game this season with at least three caused turnovers and third with four.
• Huhtala had a season-high seven ground balls.
• Garlow, Sammy Owen, and Amber Daley each finished with two caused turnovers.
• Latray added four assists to her season total, her sixth game this season with at least four helpers.
• Braniecki recorded her second-straight hat trick and her eighth game this season with at least three goals.
• Savage has recorded multiple tallies in 10 of 11 games this season.
 
Up Next
Niagara travels to Loudonville, N.Y., for a meeting with the Siena Saints on Wednesday, April 3 at 3 p.m.
 
Stay connected with Niagara Women's Lacrosse on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on X, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.