Box Score
Box Score
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Manhattan College women's lacrosse team began a stretch where it plays four of its last five games on the road with a matchup at Niagara on Saturday. The Jaspers (3-9, 0-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) battled back from a seven-goal halftime deficit, but ultimately dropped a 13-10 decision to the Purple Eagles (5-7, 2-1 MAAC) at Niagara Field.
Niagara scored the first two goals of the game before Kara Hodapp (Oak Ridge, NJ) cut the Purple Eagles' lead in half at the 21:13 mark of the first half. However, after the teams traded goals, Niagara rallied for five straight tallies to go up 8-2. The Jaspers halted the run on Talia Price's (Kinnelon, NJ) goal with just under three minutes left in the half, but the Purple Eagles responded with three more to make it 11-3.
Sarah Lang (Golden's Bridge, NY) scored late in the first half to cut Manhattan's deficit to 11-4 at the break, then she put another one on the board to start the second half. Hodapp followed with her second of the game a minute later to pull the Jaspers within 11-6. After Niagara increased the margin to 13-7, Lang connected again with 13:49 remaining. Hodapp and Darby Nolan (Oak Ridge, NJ) added late tallies, but the Jaspers' comeback attempt fell short, as the Purple Eagles held on for a 13-10 victory.
Lang led the Jaspers with four goals, while Hodapp found the back of the net three times. Nolan also contributed three points with two goals and an assist, and Price registered Manhattan's other tally. Emma Kaishian (Yorktown, NY) picked up five ground balls to go along with four draw controls. Caitlin Murphy (Carmel, NY) also controlled four draws or the Jaspers. Goalkeeper Nikki Prestiano (Yorktown Heights, NY) (3-9) made nine saves.
For the Purple Eagles, Alexis Morales scored four goals and Grace Hunt handed out four assists. Rachel MacCheyne, meanwhile, recorded two goals and an assist. Audrey Fithall also contributed a pair of goals. Alexandra Higgins led Niagara with five ground balls and five draw controls to go along with three caused turnovers. In addition to corralling three ground balls, Andrea Francisco (5-7) made 14 saves in goal.
On Wednesday, the Jaspers return to Gaelic Park for their final home game of the season. Nolan, the team's lone senior, will be honored prior to the 7 p.m. matchup against Iona (4-9, 1-3 MAAC).
