NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — With every playoff spot in the MAAC Tournament still undecided and the top five teams all holding 5-2 records, there will be plenty of drama around the circuit tomorrow evening, and that’s certainly going to be the case when Niagara hosts Canisius. The final conference matchup of the day starts at 7 p.m. and is the only one featuring two 5-2 squads vying for the upper hand in the postseason.
Niagara has clinched a berth in the conference tournament. However, they can finish anywhere from the top seed to the fifth. Fairfield and Marist both hold tiebreakers over Niagara by virtue of their head-to-head wins earlier this season. Niagara holds the tiebreaker over Monmouth by virtue of their head-to-head win earlier this season.
Last Time Out
- The Purple Eagles bested Quinnipiac, 15-11, on Saturday for a Senior Day win.
- Niagara jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the Bobcats in the opening nine minutes.
- At halftime, the Purple Eagles had a 10-7 lead. Rachel MacCheyne and Caroline Crump both had hat tricks at that point, and Alina Del Toro potted her first goal of the season with 3:39 left in the half.
- Aubrey DeVeau made seven second-half saves to keep Niagara ahead and preserve the victory.
- MacCheyne finished with six points (5 G, 1 A), most of any player in the game.
On the Field: Niagara Purple Eagles
- Niagara’s offense has scored more goals (197) than any other MAAC team. Their 12.31 goals per game is the third-best average in the conference.
- Niagara has taken more shots (493) than all other MAAC schools. They also rank third in shots per game (30.81).
- Rachel MacCheyne continues to lead the conference in goals (53), points (70) and points per game (4.38).
- Niagara is the only school with two players in the top five in draw controls. MacCheyne has won 105 draws (second) while Alexandra Higgins has won 82 (fifth).
- Grace Hunt leads the team with 18 assists.
On the Field: Canisius Golden Griffins
- Canisius is coming off consecutive losses at North Carolina and Fairfield. In their most recent matchup against the Stags, the Griffs came back from down 7-3 to tie the game twice, but fell behind at the end of the game to fall 11-8.
- Canisius’ goaltenders have made more saves (194) than any MAAC school. Their 12.12 saves per game are the second-best rate of all nine teams in the conference. Rebecca VanLaeken has accounted for 191 of the saves, an individual best in the circuit.
- Jourdan Roemer leads the team with 44 goals and 2.75 goals per game, the sixth-best totals in the MAAC.
- Roemer’s 68 points and 4.25 points per game are the second-highest totals behind Niagara’s MacCheyne for most in the conference.