DENVER, COLO. – Niagara improved to 6-2 overall with a come-from-behind win over Delaware Saturday afternoon in a neutral site contest with the Blue Hens. The Purple Eagles erased an 8-0 Delaware lead en route to an 12-11 overtime victory.
Jordan Roy, who came in during the second quarter locked down the Delaware offense with 13 saves, while Lexi Braniecki powered the offense with three tallies, followed by Rachel Crane, Andra Savage, and Jenna Brill with two apiece. Lois Garlow scored the game-winner on a free-position goal two and a half minutes into the extra frame.
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Game Recap
First Quarter
• Delaware scored the first goal of the game at the 12:39 mark of the first, which led to five more goals for the Blue Hens.
• Two of Delaware’s six goals in the opening frame came via free-position shots, while Lizzie Hsu tallied three goals in the quarter
Second Quarter
• The Blue Hens scored twice in a 30-second span to open the second and take a commanding 8-0 lead over Niagara.
• While being a woman down, Braniecki drew a foul and earned a free-position attempt with 5:04 on the clock, resulting in NU’s first goal of the contest.
• The game would go into the half with the Blue Hens up 8-1.
Third Quarter
• Niagara would score all six goals in the third quarter to make it an 8-7 Blue Hen lead heading into the final 15.
• At the 14:08 mark, Savage found Crane for Niagara’s second goal and less than two minutes later Savage would take a pass from Riley Latray to score her first goal of the game and make it an 8-3 game.
• Brill notched her first goal of the game at the 10:37 mark of the third, followed by goals from Braniecki and Crane to put the Purple and White down by two with four minutes remaining in the quarter.
• Braniecki would score another woman-up goal to end the third and put NU down by one.
Fourth Quarter
• The Purple Eagles tied the game at eight two and a half minutes into the final stanza, this one by Jaclyn Crane on an assist from Garlow.
• The Blue Hens would retake the lead, 9-8 with 11:17 to go in regulation, before the Purple and White struck for three-straight goals to take their largest lead of the contest.
• R. Crane, Brill and Savage each tallied their second goals of the game to give Niagara the lead.
• Delaware would score twice before the clock hit zero to tie the game at 12-12 and force OT.
Overtime
• Garlow would draw a foul and score on the free-position chance to secure Niagara’s sixth win of the season.
Niagara Notes
• The overtime victory is Niagara’s first since a 9-7 overtime victory against Detroit Mercy on March 7, 2013.
• With two goals Saturday afternoon, Savage eclipsed the 20-goal mark on the season.
• Garlow notched her sixth free-position goal of the season on the game-winner.
• Niagara matched its season-high with 13 caused turnovers, while setting a new season-best with 24 clears. Sydney Huhtala led NU with three caused turnovers and now has 14 on the season.
• Latray and Garlow registered two assists.
• R. Crane picked up a team-best three ground balls, while Garlow and Brill lead the team with two draw controls.
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles four-game road trip continues with a trip to Milwaukee, Wisc., on Thursday, March 12, for a noon game time.
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