Late Goal Lifts Niagara Over Detroit
from press release
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women's
lacrosse team (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) scored the game-winning goal with 17
seconds left in regulation to push past the visiting Detroit-Mercy
Titans (3-7, 1-2 NLC) by a 10-9 final score at Niagara Field on
Friday night.
With the game tied at nine in the waning seconds of regulation,
senior Courtney Formato sent a crisp pass to fellow senior Leigh
Downing, who cut to the net and shot the ball high past the
shoulder of Titans netminder Brett Yenger. Downing's second goal of
the night capped off a 4-1 run by the Purple Eagles to close out
the game.
"Me and Courtney work really well together and she hit me with a
great pass," Downing said. "I cut to the net and made the most out
of the opportunity."
The Purple Eagles also started the game strong, jumping out to a
2-0 lead five minutes into the game on goals by Emily French and
Emily Chayka. A 5-0 Titans run gave the visitors a slight 5-2 edge
in the final minutes of the first half, but the Purple Eagles
outscored Detroit 2-1 in the last 6:28 of the stanza to be down 6-4
at halftime.
Downing added her first goal of the night barely two minutes into
the second half to bring the Purple Eagles within one. After the
Titans would then score two of the game's next three goals, to take
a 8-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining. Niagara would respond by
tying the game on goals by junior Rianne Farrugia and Formato,
leaving 15 minutes left in the game to determine a winner.
With just under nine minutes remaining, French scored her
team-leading seventh goal of the season for the 9-8 lead, but the
Titans would tie the game four minutes later on a free-position
goal by Lindsey Saunders.
Farrugia and Formato each finished the game with two goals and an
assist for three points, while Downing and French finished the game
with two goals apiece.
Rekart responded with a pair of goals over the next three minutes
to tie the match at 7-7 and start a 7-0 DU run.
Duquesne would allow only a three goals the rest of the way, with
Sara Beckstead making seven saves and Liz Walker two in the
victory.
