VESTAL, NY – Niagara improved to 5-1 on the season with a 12-5 victory over in-state rival Binghamton Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.
 
Senior goalie Jordan Roy made 12 saves while senior Andra Savage paced the Purple Eagle attack with seven points on five goals and two assists as Niagara defeated Binghamton for the fifth-straight time. Lois Garlow, Rachel Crane, and Lexi Braniecki tallied two goals apiece and Riley Latray finished with a team-high four assists.
 
Olivia Muscolino scored twice for Binghamton while three other Bearcats tallied one goal apiece.
 
How it Happened
Niagara would get ahead early on with a free-position tally from Crane one minute into the contest. Braniecki would make it 2-0 in favor of Niagara at the 8:20 mark of the first quarter with her 21st goal of the season.
 
Roy would stop three Bearcat shots in the first 15-minutes, including two in the final minute of the frame to keep Niagara ahead by two heading into the second.
 
Garlow would contribute to Niagara's third and fourth goals of the game, finding the back of the net herself a minute into stanza, followed by an assist on Savage's first goal of the game less than a minute and a half later to give the Purple and White a 4-0 lead.
 
After Binghamton made it a 4-1 game, the Purple Eagles would strike for two more. The first a woman-up goal as Latray found Savage, followed by a free position tally from Maddy Gill, for her lone goal of the contest, giving NU a 6-1 lead with 6:23 to play in the first half.
 
Niagara would go up 7-2 on a free position goal from Crane with 4:45 on the clock in the second quarter before Binghamton made it a 7-3 game going into the break. Roy kept Binghamton from making it a three goal game on a free position chance with her fifth save of the contest.
 
Latray and Savage teamed up for the first goal of the second half, giving Niagara an 8-3 lead.
 
Niagara would take a 10-4 advantage into the final 15-minutes of action as Braniecki scored her second of the contest and Savage tallied her fourth.
 
Savage's fifth goal of the game would give NU a 11-4 lead with 10:04 remaining in the contest as she deposited the pass from Latray into the back of the net.
 
Garlow would score Niagara's 12th and final goal of the game with 3:06 remaining in the contest.
 
Binghamton would get one back in the final two-minutes, giving the game its 12-5 final.
 
Roy made five saves in the final frame to help Niagara to the seven-goal win.
 
Niagara Notes
• Saturday marked the 17th meeting all-time between Niagara and Binghamton, with the Purple Eagles taking a 9-8 series lead.
• Niagara has now won the last five meetings with Binghamton.
• The Purple and White have now won four-straight games.
• Roy matched her season-high with 12 saves set against Colgate on Feb. 24.
• Savage has recorded four or more goals in five games this season, including scoring five in each of the last two games.
• Savage now leads Niagara with 23 goals on the season.
• Latray recorded her third game this season with four or more assists. She has a team-high 19 on the season.
• Mickey Knapp led Niagara with three ground balls. Niagara finished with 11 as a team.
• Sydney Huhtala caused two of Niagara's five caused turnovers.
• Niagara won 11-of-20 draw controls with Crane recording a team-best five.  
 
Up Next
Niagara travels to DeLand, Fla., for a Thursday, March 14 meeting with Stetson at 6 p.m.
 
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.