NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT- Quinnipiac and visiting Niagara pulled out all the stops in Sunday’s MAAC lacrosse match, but it was Niagara that walked away with the victory when the dust settled, 21-16. Alexis Morales and Rachel MacCheyne each had five goals to pace the offensive juggernaut. Caroline Crump added four goals as well.
“It wasn’t pretty,” said Head Coach Wendy Stone. “But we kept our composure under difficult circumstances and finished it out.”
As the score demonstrates, it was not a great day for goalkeepers. Andrea Francisco made eight saves to earn the victory and helped halt a late Bobcat rally. Quinnipiac scored to make it 17-16 with under five minutes remaining, but the Purple Eagles shifted into turbo and scored four unanswered to douse the fire.
With the win, the Purple Eagles clinched home field advantage in the first round of the MAAC Tournament. The team’s opponent will be determined this week, but Niagara is glad to be at home for the opening round.
“It was great to come out with the win today and to clinch home field in the first round,” Stone added. “We battled for 60 minutes today.”
Niagara closes the regular season with the Battle of the Bridge on Wednesday night at Canisius. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of PurpleEagles.com
Niagara Wire 