NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara improved to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in MAAC play with a 18-13 win over the visiting Rider Broncs on Saturday. The Broncs move to 8-7 overall and 2-5 in conference action.
Lois Garlow recorded a seven-point game tallying four goals and three assists, followed by Andra Savage who collected four goals and an assist for a five-point outing. Lexi Braniecki recorded a hat trick and added an assist, while Riley Latray recorded three assists and a goal. Sydney Huhtala led the team in draw controls with 10 and Jordan Roy made seven saves in goal for Niagara.
Rider was led by Emily Wesoky and Kylee Garcia who both recorded four-point games, netting three goals and adding an assist. Elena Bontatibu also recorded a hat trick in the loss for the Broncs. Jamie Kubach made 11 saves in cage for the Broncs.
How it Happened
The first goal of the game was scored 5:28 into the contest, as the Broncs took the early 1-0 lead. the Purple and White tied the game a minute and a half later with Rachel Crane’s first of two goals on the day and later took the lead with as sophomores Maddy Gill and Hannah Kent hooked up for the go-ahead goal.
After trading goals for the next 10-minutes of action the Purple Eagles and Broncs would find themselves tied 4-4 with 10:15 reaming in the second quarter. The game wouldn’t remain tied long as the Broncs scored three unanswered to take a 7-4 lead over NU with 6:25 to play in the first half.
Niagara ended the half on a 4-0 run to take a 8-7 lead into the break, getting goals from Braniecki, Savage and Garlow.
Braniecki completed the hat trick scoring 37 seconds into the third quarter, giving NU its first multi-goal lead of the contest. However, Rider would once again even the score with a goal at the 12:13 and 10:37 mark of the frame.
Niagara would go on to outscore Rider 4-1 over the final 10-mintues of the third, getting goals from four different Purple Eagles, and taking a 13-10 lead into the fourth.
Garlow netted her fourth goal of the game to start the final stanza, propelling Niagara to a five-goal frame that saw the first career goals from seniors Reese Dera and Leah deRoo.
Roy made a pair of saves in the fourth, helping Niagara secure the 18-13 win.
Niagara Notes
• Saturday marked the first meeting all-time between Niagara and Rider.
• Huhtala recorded 10 draw controls, becoming the first Purple Eagle to record 10 or more draw controls since Rachel MacCheyne recorded 13 draws on Feb. 15, 2019, against St. Bonaventure.
• Andra Savage recorded her 11th game this season with four or more goals.
• Braniecki recorded her 200th career point in the win, becoming the fifth Purple Eagle to record 200 or more career points.
• Garlow’s 69 points this season are fourth most all-time by a Purple Eagle and surpasses her previous career-high of 68 set in 2022. The graduate-student now has 225 career points, second most all-time behind Rachel MacCheyne’s 237.
• With her three assists today, Latray surpassed her previous career-high and program single-season record of 42.
• Savage now has 57 goals on the season, five behind Rachel MacCheyne’s single-season program record of 62.
Up Next
Niagara will take on Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Demske Sports Complex in downtown Buffalo, N.Y.
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