NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Game 14
Niagara Purple Eagles (6-7, 3-1 MAAC) vs. Monmouth Hawks (5-8, 3-1 MAAC)
Saturday, April 14 – 12:00 p.m.
Kessler Stadium – West Long Branch, N.J.
The Niagara University women’s lacrosse team heads east to take on the Monmouth Hawks with prime postseason seeding on the line. Both squads are in a four-way tie for second place in the MAAC standings with four total conference games left to play. Opening draw is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
Last Time Out
- Niagara dominated the first half of its meeting against Siena on Wednesday, April 11 en route to a 16-8 victory. The Purple Eagles opened the game with five unanswered goals, holding the Saints scoreless for over 14 minutes.
- Rachel MacCheyne led the team offensively with six points (4 G, 2 A). MacCheyne also picked up five draw controls, which helped the team go 20 for 26 in that category.
- Grace Hunt’s four assists were tied for the most points she has tallied all season.
- Defensively, the Purple Eagles allowed just 21 total shots, the fewest any opponent has had so far this season.
On the Field: Niagara Purple Eagles (6-7, 3-1 MAAC)
- Niagara’s offense ranks second in the MAAC in shots per game (30.15), shots on goal per game (21.54), is tied for second in assists per game (21.54), and is third in goals per game (11.92) and points per game (16.69).
- Rachel MacCheyne leads the team with 40 goals and is second in the conference in points (53), points per game (4.08), second in shots per game (7.31), and third in the MAAC in both goals per game (3.08) and draw controls per game (6.15). She has scored three or more goals in nine of Niagara’s 13 games.
- Caroline Crump ranks second on the team in goals (33), points (44) and shots (85) while ranking third in assists (11). Crump’s three game-winning goals are tied for the most in the conference.
- Lauren Paul is fourth in the conference with 2.91 ground balls per game and sixth with 1.40 caused turnovers per game.
Chasing Milestones
- Caroline Crump has 94 career goals and is on pace to reach the 100-goal mark by season’s end.
- Alexandra Higgins currently ranks second all-time in ground balls with 145 for her career, closing in on Kara Martin’s career record of 147. She also continues to extend her school records for caused turnovers (77) and draw controls (260).
- Alexis Morales has 97 career points after recording two goals against Siena on Wednesday.
On the Field: Monmouth Hawks (5-8, 3-1 MAAC)
- The Hawks come into the contest having won their last two games, 14-11 against Fairfield on April 4, and 14-12 at Canisius on April 8.
- After starting the season 0-4 at home, Monmouth has won each of their last three home games by an average of five goals.
- As a team, Monmouth ranks just behind Niagara in several statistical categories, including being the fourth-ranked MAAC team in terms of goals per game (10.62), assists per game (4.38), points per game (15.00) and draw controls (11.38).
- Offensively, Nicole Ceraso’s 23 assists and 40 points are both team highs, while Alexa Smith leads the team with 32 goals and 56 shots on net.
- Kate Ryan has more cased turnovers (18) than any other Hawks player.
- Goalkeeper Riley Brager has seen the overwhelming majority of action in net and has a 13.33 goals against average, making 120 saves on 403 shots faced (.411 save pct.).
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