Women’s Lacrosse Hosts Hofstra Saturday, Visits Niagara Monday
ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany women’s lacrosse team (6-0) returns to John Fallon Field to face Hofstra (5-4) on Saturday, March 22 at noon. The Great Danes then visit Niagara (3-3) on Monday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m., before opening the conference season.
In its most recent game, UAlbany handled William & Mary 14-3 in Williamsburg. In that game Rachel Bowles and Nichole Eamer both scored four goals and tallied to assists each. Six different Great Danes scored and the defense recorded its second-lowest goals allowed total of the season thus far.
UAlbany is receiving votes in the Brine and IWLCA Polls after its 6-0 start. The Great Danes are fifth in the nation in scoring offense with 16.40 goals per game and tied for 11th in scoring defense, allowing 7.40 goals per game.
Sophomore midfielder and three-time America East Offensive Player of the Week Rachel Bowles ranks second nationally in goals per game (4.20) and points per game (6.20). She has already scored 25 goals in six games. The UAlbany Division I single-season record for goals scored is 56, set by Jodi Battaglia in 2011.
Draw control specialist Kathleen Lennon is currently averaging 5.17 draws per game, and ranks 12th in the nation in the category.
SCOUTING HOFSTRA
The Pride (5-4) suffered two one-goal losses in their last two games against Ohio State and Temple. Hofstra was on a three-game winning streak with victories over Central Connecticut, Marist and Quinnipiac.
Junior defender April Iannetta was named to the Tewaarton Watch List earlier this season, after earning CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013. The Pride is led by Brittain Altomare on offense. The junior has 22 goals and 19 assists to her credit so far in 2014.
SCOUTING NIAGARA
The Purple Eagles (3-3) are coming off of an 18-13 win against St. Bonaventure. Niagara hadn’t played a game for nearly two weeks due to a cancellation. Carrie-Jo Farrugia is Niagara’s top scorer with 13 goals. Four Purple Eagles have scored 10 goals or more, also including Maria Battista, Hannah Barnett and Erin Patenaude.
The Purple Eagles went 5-11 overall last season and finished sixth in the MAAC with a league record of 1-5.
