Niagara University, N.Y. — Niagara women's lacrosse closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule falling to Marquette 6-5 Saturday afternoon at Niagara Field. 

The Purple Eagles fell to 1-7, while the Golden Eagles moved to 5-3.

Neither team found the back of the net in the opening frame. Niagara generated five shots, while Purple Eagles netminder Haley Terry stopped Marquette's lone opportunity.

The Golden Eagles broke the game open in the second quarter, scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-0 lead. Eileen Dooley got the Golden Eagles on the board at 11:55, converting off an assist from Julia Evens. Hanna Bodner then struck twice, first at 10:19 and again at 2:52 with Tess Osburn sandwiching a goal of her own at 9:36.

Niagara continued to threaten late, with Michaela Delles and Maddy Gill each testing Jillian Howell in the final minute, but the Purple Eagles went to halftime down four.

Niagara came alive in the third quarter, outscoring Marquette 4-1 to pull within 5-4 entering the final period. Delles opened the scoring for the home side at 12:16, cutting the deficit to 4-1. The Purple Eagles then converted a free-position opportunity at 8:23, with Avery Olschefskie finishing to make it 4-2. 

Hanna Bodner answered for the Golden Eagles at 4:20 off a Tess Osburn assist, pushing the lead back to three. Bianca McGrayne scored with 2:25 left in the quarter, and Olivia Ng beat the buzzer with a goal at 0:17 to send the teams into the fourth with Marquette ahead 5-4.

Kensington Keane tied it 5-5 at the 12:00 mark of the fourth off a free position, capping what had been a rally from four goals down. 

Marquette responded quickly, with Sarah Beth Burns converting a free-position shot of her own at 10:29 to reclaim the lead at 6-5. 

Niagara pressed in the final minutes as Haley Terry made three saves to keep the Purple Eagles' goalie in the game, and Maddy Gill tested Marquette reliever Mikayla Yang with a shot at 1:02 but the Golden Eagles ran out the clock to secure the victory.

Terry finished with 10 saves for Niagara, while Howell stopped 10 shots over her 45 minutes before giving way to Yang. 

Game Notes

Niagara is now 2-6 all-time against Marquette

McGrayne scored goals in back-to-back games for the first time in her collegiate career

Sydney Huhtala recorded four ground balls and four caused turnovers

Delles led the Purple and White with five shots on goal

Up Next

Niagara opens conference play heading to Hamden, Conn. to take on Quinnipiac Saturday March 21 at noon.