Fairfield, Conn. — Niagara women's lacrosse fell to Siena 18-8 in the Semifinals of the MAAC Championship Friday afternoon.
The Saints improved to 12-6 with the win. The Purple Eagles fell to 8-9.
Niagara came out of the gate scoring the game's first two goals in less than two minutes. Avery Olschefskie put the Purple Eagles in front at the 11:18 mark, and Maive Partlow converted a player-up opportunity at 10:03, assisted by Bianca McGrayne, to give Niagara a 2-0 lead.
Siena answered with three straight to close the period. Cassidy Bonura converted a free-position shot at 7:20, Lauren O'Hagan tied it at 6:12 and Angie Efstathiou put the Saints ahead at 3:50.
Siena seized control in the second quarter, outscoring Niagara 7-2 to take a 10-4 lead into the break.
Avery Connolly, assisted by Jenna Pollicino, pushed the margin to 4-2 just 52 seconds into the period. Niagara responded when Maddy Gill converted a man-up goal at 11:54 to make it 4-3, but the Purple Eagles could not sustain the momentum.
Sara Curley buried a free-position opportunity at 10:25 to restore a two-goal cushion. Cassidy Bonura, Olivia Nicholson (twice) and Hailey Deptula each added goals as Siena went on a 6-0 run to push the lead to 10-3. Kensington Keane pulled one back for Niagara on a free-position shot at 5:15, but Connolly scored again with 55 seconds remaining to send the Saints to the break up six.
Siena extended its run to start the third frame, with Bonura and Connolly scoring in the first 90 seconds to push the lead to 12-4. Hailey Deptula added a third at 11:40, making it 13-4 and prompting a Niagara timeout and a goalie change as Abby Penfield replaced Terry — though Terry returned shortly after.
Niagara began to chip away. Dela Rosa converted a free-position shot at 7:42, and Gill and Bianca McGrayne scored twice in an 11-second span — at 2:14 and 2:03, the latter assisted by Hannah Kent to make it 13-7. After Siena's Sara Curley answered at 0:55, Gill completed a hat trick with a goal at the 0:25 mark, assisted by Kent, to close the quarter at 14-8.
Siena dominated in draw controls throughout the period, with Sydney Hannes winning multiple straight following each Saints goal.
Niagara went scoreless in the fourth quarter as Siena closed out the game with four more goals. Elizabeth Wamp capitalized on the player-up opportunity at 14:02 to push the lead to 15-8. Bonura added two more goals, including a free-position conversion and a player-up tally off an Avery Connolly assist, while Deptula also scored to complete the margin.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 18-14 all-time against Siena
Gill recorded her sixth hat trick of the season
Sydney Huhtala led the Purple and White with three ground balls and two caused turnovers
Kent's two assists were a season-high
