POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - The Marist women's lacrosse team fell to the Niagara Purple Eagles 12-11 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game on Wednesday afternoon. The two teams were tied at halftime, then endured over an hour rain delay, before Niagara was able to take the lead with a game winning goal with just 16 seconds left on the clock. 
 
With the loss, Marist record falls to 2-2 (2-2 MAAC) on the season. Meanwhile, Niagara improves to 6-3 (6-3 MAAC).

 

SUMMARY

• Niagara struck first as Shea Swartwout fired a shot into the back of the net at the 21:55 mark of the first half.
• The Red Foxes responded quickly when Alexandra Di Chiara scored to tie the game 1-1 just one minute later.
• The teams traded goals back and forth for the rest of the half. Kerri Gutenberger scored her second goal of the game right before halftime which tied the game at five.
• There were four lead changes and five ties throughout the first half.
• The Red Foxes started strong in the second half as three goals were scored in the first two minutes and 30 seconds of the period by Devon Connolly, Samantha Mehalick, and Kelly George.
• Mehalick's goal at the 12:26 mark gave Marist its largest lead of the game of five goals.
• However, Niagara was able to respond to Marist's run with five goals of its own and tied the game 11-11 with 3:35 left in the contest.
• Shea Swartwout of the Purple Eagles found the back of the net with just 16 seconds left in the game, leading Niagara to a 12-11 victory.

 

KEY STATS

• Gutenberger led Marist with three goals in the game.
• Di Chiara had a game-high four points and three assists.
• Delaney Galvin saved 11 shots in the contest, which was a game-high.
• Romy Villemure was all over the place on the defensive side, securing a game-high seven draw controls, and forcing a game-high four turnovers.
• Di Chiara had game-high three assists,
• Niagara had seven free position shots in the game, while Marist had just two.

 

NOTES

• Villemure's seven draw controls were a career-high, and her four caused turnovers matched a career-high.
• Di Chiara's three assists matched her career-high, as did her four points.
• Mehalick now has a team-high 12 goals and 12 points for the season.
• Gutenberger's hat trick puts her at nine goals for the season, second on the team.
• Di Chiara's now second on the team in points with 11.

 

UP NEXT

Marist will head to Fairfield to take on the Stags on Saturday, April 24th.  The game will begin at 4pm.