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Maggie Tifft and Jody Chu hug after defeating Niagara on March 29, 2023
Max Sacco
12
Winner CAN CAN 6-3, 1-1
11
Niagara NIA 6-5, 0-2
Winner
CAN CAN
6-3, 1-1
12
Final
11
Niagara NIA
6-5, 0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CAN CAN 4 1 3 4 12
Niagara NIA 5 2 2 2 11

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Women's Lacrosse Surges in Second Half to Defeat Niagara

Senior midfielder Paige Stachura matched her career-high in goals with six, while the Canisius defense stymied the Niagara attack during the final 30 seconds to defeat its Battle of the Bridge rival, 12-11, in MAAC women's lacrosse action at Niagara Field in Lewiston, N.Y., Wednesday night. With the win, the Golden Griffins improve to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in MAAC play, while the Purple Eagles fell to 6-5 and 0-2 in conference action.
 
Along with Stachura, graduate student Ivy Santana chipped in three goals with Skylar McArthur and Caroline Netti each adding in two points of their own each with a goal and an assist. On the defensive end, freshman goalie Jody Chu picked up nine ground balls, caused two turnovers and made six saves in the winning effort.
 
As for Niagara, it was led by Rachel Crane, who scored five goals in the defeat. Lexi Braniecki notched four points with two goals and two assists while Sydney Huhtala grabbed four ground balls and caused a game-high three turnovers. In net, Jordan Roy made six saves in almost 53 minutes of action.
 
Down 7-5 out of halftime, Santana got the Griffs on the board to start the second half before back-to-back goals by Stachura put the Blue and Gold back on top, 8-7, with 2:21 left in the frame.

The Purple Eagles would strike back with two late scores, both courtesy of Crane, with under two minutes to play to enter the final frame ahead, 9-8.
 
After a scoreless 4:30 to open the final frame, Stachura opened the scoring in the final frame less than 20 seconds later to knot the score, 9-9, with 10:13 to play.  
Less than an a minute later, Santana would find an open spot in the offensive zone to fire the ball past Roy and regain the lead for the Griffs, 10-9, with 9:16 remaining.
   
After a Garlow goal equalized the score at 10-10, Stachura would put the Griffs ahead for good, scoring her fifth and sixth goal of the contest to make the score 12-10 Griffs with 1:39 to play.
   
Crane would get one back for the Purple Eagles with 1:16 to play, but the Griffs' defense dug in and forced a turnover from Niagara's Maddy Gill before Catherine Wall snatched the loose ground ball to drain the clock and seal the victory.
   
Earlier in the contest, the Griffs jumped ahead to an early 3-1 lead in the first quarter, thanks to scores from Santana, Netti and Maggie Tifft on a free-position shot. The Purple Eagles netted six of the next eight goals to close the half, setting the scene for the Griffs' second-half surge.
 
Comments from Head Coach Russell Allen:  
Game Notes:
• Chu's nine ground balls tie the program record for ground balls in a single game.
• Wednesday was the 32nd all-time meeting between the two programs. Canisius leads the series 18-14.
• The win serves as Canisius' first win over Niagara since 2019, and it marked the Griffs' first road win in the series since the 2018 campaign.
• In the fourth quarter, Canisius out shot Niagara by an 11-5 clip. The Griffs ended the game with a 30-26 edge in shots.
• As a team, Canisius limited Niagara to just three ground balls in the second half, against the 10 the Purple Eagles collected in the game's first 30 minutes.
• Tift's free-position goal was her first since Feb. 19 at Stetson.
• Chu established new season-highs in ground balls (nine) and caused turnovers (two).
 
Up Next:
Canisius will return to action on Saturday, April 1, when the team travels to play at Iona. Game time is set for 12 p.m., in New Rochelle, N.Y.
 
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