NIAGARA UNIV. — Senior defender Kara Martin, senior goalkeeper Andrea Francisco, and junior midfielder Samantha Brill were named the captains of the 2017 Purple Eagles lacrosse team, announced by head coach Wendy Stone on Thursday.
“Kara, Andrea and Sam were elected by their teammates and represent the best of Niagara Lacrosse,” Stone said. “Collectively, they embody a team-first mentality and raise the level of competitiveness every day at practice. Each one brings something different to the table in terms of leadership styles, which makes them an effective unit both on and off the field. All three are a source of energy for the team, they love to play, and most importantly they care deeply about their teammates; I am confident they will do a great job leading us this season.”
Martin enters her second year as a team captain in 2017. A Preseason All-MAAC Team member in 2016, Martin helped anchor a Purple Eagles defense that led the MAAC in ground balls per game (19.94) and caused turnovers per game (9.78). She ranked third on the team with 32 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers after leading the team with 30 ground balls in 2014 and 44 in 2015. Martin was named to the 2015 All-MAAC Second Team and the 2014 MAAC All-Rookie Team. A biology major, Martin is a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree, and she was named to the 2016 IWLCA Zag Sports Academic Honor Roll, which requires a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater.
Francisco started all 18 games in the cage in 2016 and set career highs in goals-against average (9.92), save percentage (.410), saves (120), and wins (nine) en route to All-MAAC Second Team honors. Francisco’s 17 saves at Marist on Apr. 3, 2016 was the most by any MAAC goalkeeper in a single game last season. She currently ranks fourth in Niagara history with 307 career saves. A criminal justice major, Francisco is also a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team member.
In her sophomore season in 2015, Brill recorded 13 points at midfield, scoring eight goals and chipping in five assists. She added 14 ground balls, six draw controls, and four caused turnovers. Brill was a MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree at defense in 2014, tallying 27 ground balls, 12 draw controls, and six caused turnovers while starting 17 of 18 games. A psychology major, Brill was named to the 2016 MAAC All-Academic Team in her first year eligible for the honor.
The Purple Eagles lacrosse team recorded the second-most wins in a season in program history in 2016, finishing the regular season at 9-8 before falling to Fairfield in the first round of the MAAC Championship. Niagara also posted its first-ever five-win season in MAAC play. In addition to Martin, Francisco, and Brill, Niagara returns 2016 Second-Team All-MAAC honorees Caroline Crump and Alexandra Higgins, as well as MAAC All-Rookie Team member Alexis Morales.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
