Niagara University, N.Y. – Caitlyn Gratton scored her 11th goal of the season, and Caitlyn Grady broke a 1-1 tie in the 71st minute as Niagara held off Fairfield 2-1 on Saturday at Niagara Field on Alumni Day.
The Purple Eagles improved to 10-3, 7-2 Metro Conference, while the Stags fell to 9-4-1, 7-1 Metro Conference.
Niagara controlled the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Fairfield 4-1. Gratton scored in the 10th minute off assists from Naiya Johnston and Mahelie Barbeau.
The Purple Eagles kept pushing, and Lucy Trinder and Johnston both got shots off in the 20th minute. Gutting made the save on Trinder's attempt, and Johnston's shot missed.
Fairfield answered in the 23rd minute. Ashley McMahon scored on the Stags' only shot of the half, an unassisted goal that made it 1-1. The score stayed there at the break.
The second half belonged to Fairfield offensively outshooting the Purple Eagles 9-2, but Poissant kept the game level making four saves as the Stags pressed for an equalizer. She saved McMahon's attempt in the 51st minute and Ashlyn Walsh's in the 57th.
Barbeau had Niagara's best early chance in the second half, but Fairfield goalkeeper Alyssa Gluting saved it in the 54th minute.
Niagara took the lead on its next real chance after a handball by the Stags goalkeeper gave the Purple Eagles a free kick opportunity just outside the box. Grady scored in the 71st minute, her first goal of the season, with Trinder assisting.
Fairfield threatened late as Mary Grusser's shot hit the woodwork in the 80th minute. Phoebe George then forced saves from Poissant in the 83rd and 87th minutes, and Niagara held on for the 2-1 victory.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara is now 13-24-3 against Fairfield
• This was the Stags first conference loss of the season
• The Purple Eagles snapped a three-game drought against Fairfield dating back to 2022
• Gratton's 13th tally of the year ties Florence Valliancourt (2021) for eighth most in a season
• Johnston cracks the top-10 in assists in single season with her seventh, sitting tied for seventh
• Eight Purple Eagles played the full 90
Up Next
Niagara heads back to the road to face Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius Wednesday October 21 at 6:00 PM in Buffalo, NY.
