ECU Returns Home To Host Niagara | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of ECU Sports.



    GREENVILLE, N.C.     Coming off a dominating win to get back on track, the East Carolina lacrosse team has a chance to break the school record for victories as the Pirates host Niagara on Saturday evening.

    East Carolina (5-2) tied the school record for single-season victories with an 18-8 demolition of Stetson on Monday, a win that snapped a two-game losing streak. The Pirates were led in that win by Megan Tryniski, who had a career day. The senior recorded eight points on three goals and five assists, tying her own East Carolina record for points in a game and breaking the record for assists in a game. She also became the third player in ECU history to reach 100 career points and now leads ECU with 30 points on 17 goals and 13 assists. Another Pirate on the brink of history is Nicole LeGar, who has 106 goals, tied with former Pirate Megan Pallozzi for the most by a Pirate. LeGar has 13 goals and two assists this season, ranking her fourth on the team with 15 points. Frances Kimel (24 points on 11 goals and 13 assists) and Leah Bestany (16 points on 14 goals and two assists) are second and third on the team in points while Sophia LoCicero has 10 goals to round out the five Pirates with double digit points.

    At the draw circe, LeGar leads the Pirates with 33 draw controls while Flynn Reed has 25 of her own. Alexandra Giacolone and Caroline Meininger have been ball hawks for the Pirate defense, with each racking up nine caused turnovers and ranking first and second in ground balls with 14 and seven respectively. In the goal, Brynn Knight has started all seven games and has 38 saves while allowing 48 goals. Sophie Bandorick has also played in all seven games, making 38 stops while allowing 22 goals. As a squad, ECU is 19th in save percentage, stopping 50.7% of shots. East Carolina is also in the top-20 of the NCAA in turnovers per game, coughing it up just 12 times per game which is 17th, and in clearing percentage, with the Pirates getting it into the offensive end 90.3% of the time to rank 16th.

    Niagara (3-2) has won two straight games to move back over .500. The Purple Eagles most recently beat Marquette 12-9 in their first home game of the season. Niagara is led in scoring by Lois Garlow, who has 18 points on 13 goals and five assists. Preseason All-MAAC selection Rachel Crane is second on the team with nine points on eight goals and an assist, as well as leading the team in draw controls (10) and ranking second in caused turnovers (six) and third in ground balls (eight). The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Michelle Messenger has started three games in the cage, making 19 saves while allowing 31 goals. Jordan Roy is the other Purple Eagle who has started at goalkeeper, making nine stops while allowing 19 goals. Niagara has been strong at gaining possession, as the Purple Eagles rank 19th in the country with 19 ground balls per game and 23rd in the NCAA in caused turnovers per game, with 9.6. They also rank 29th in free position percentage, shooting .500 from the eight-meter arc.

    It will be the first ever meeting between East Carolina and Niagara, although the two programs were scheduled to meet in 2020 with that meeting cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will not only be the first meeting between the two schools, but it will also be the first time East Carolina has ever taken on a MAAC opponent. The two programs share a common pair of opponents this season. Like ECU, Niagara traveled to take on Stetson and Jacksonville. The Purple Eagles also beat Stetson, by a score of 11-10, while also falling to Jacksonville, losing 20-2.

    The game is scheduled for 5 p.m., inside Johnson Stadium and admission is free for all fans.