Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, February 16
Ypsilanti, Mich.
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
0-1
4
vs
18
Niagara
2-0
1
2
3
4
F
Niagara
3
9
3
3
18
Eastern Mich.
1
0
0
3
4
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Lacrosse Scores First Program Goal in Inaugural Game, Falls, 18-4, to Niagara
2/16/2023 3:22:00 PM | Lacrosse
22 Eagles made their collegiate debuts
Highlight Video | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse program faced Niagara University, Thursday, Feb. 16, inside the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). The Green and White scored the program's first four goals ever, but ultimately fell to the Purple Eagles, 18-4, in its inaugural game.
How It Happened
Niagara opened up scoring in the first quarter with two straight goals at 10:41 and 8:47, respectively, to take an early lead over the Eagles. Less than a minute later, freshman Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md.-Patuxent) netted a woman-up goal, the first in program history, off an assist from her twin sister Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md.-Patuxent) to cut the Purple Eagles' lead in half with 7:55 left in the first. Niagara then notched one more goal to lead, 3-1, after the first 15 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, Niagara shot 9-for-14 in terms of goals to extend its lead to 12-1 at halftime. The Purple Eagles tacked on three more in the third quarter to increase their lead 15-1 through 45 minutes of play.
Freshmen Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md.-Northern) and Haley Hodak (Severn, Md.-Old Mill) scored back-to-back goals in the fourth, at 13:31 and 10:54, respectively, to cut Niagara's lead to 12. The Purple Eagles tallied three more in the quarter to go up 18-3 before Gina Jaffurs (Leonardtown, Md.-St. Mary's Ryken) was able to find the back of the net, off an assist from Blackwell, with 11 seconds remaining to close out the game's scoring.
Despite the late boost, the Eagles dropped their inaugural home opener to Niagara, 18-4.
Game Notes
» Twenty-two Eagles made their collegiate lacrosse debuts this afternoon, including 10 of the game's starters.
» Four Eastern players, Ab. Alderman, Blackwell, Hodak, and Jaffurs, netted their first collegiate goals and the first four in EMU program history.
» Three Eagles notched a single assist in the contest, highlighted by Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio-Dublin-Scioto), Am. Alderman, and Blackwell.
» Blackwell was the sole Eagle to post both a goal and an assist after she helped Jaffurs to her first goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
» Ab. Alderman led the team in ground balls with two, while six Eagles recorded at least one in the setback.
» All eight of Eastern's shots were on frame (8-of-8).
»The four EMU players who scored goals this afternoon all are freshman who hail from the state of Maryland.
Program Firsts
» First Draw Control: Mackenzie Blackwell (lost)
» First Goal Scored: Abby Alderman (Q1, 7:55)
» First Assist: Amber Alderman (Q1, 7:55, on Abby Alderman goal)
» First Save: Giuliana Ditsky (Q1, 14:29)
» First Ground Ball: Edie Prager (Q1, 13:40)
» First Caused Turnover: Abby Alderman (Q1, 13:09)
» First Woman-Up Goal Scored: Abby Alderman (Q1, 7:55)
Up Next
Eastern returns to action with its first road contest when the Eagles venture to Rock Hills, S.C., March 3, to face the Eagles of Winthrop University at noon.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse program faced Niagara University, Thursday, Feb. 16, inside the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). The Green and White scored the program's first four goals ever, but ultimately fell to the Purple Eagles, 18-4, in its inaugural game.
How It Happened
Niagara opened up scoring in the first quarter with two straight goals at 10:41 and 8:47, respectively, to take an early lead over the Eagles. Less than a minute later, freshman Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md.-Patuxent) netted a woman-up goal, the first in program history, off an assist from her twin sister Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md.-Patuxent) to cut the Purple Eagles' lead in half with 7:55 left in the first. Niagara then notched one more goal to lead, 3-1, after the first 15 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, Niagara shot 9-for-14 in terms of goals to extend its lead to 12-1 at halftime. The Purple Eagles tacked on three more in the third quarter to increase their lead 15-1 through 45 minutes of play.
Freshmen Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md.-Northern) and Haley Hodak (Severn, Md.-Old Mill) scored back-to-back goals in the fourth, at 13:31 and 10:54, respectively, to cut Niagara's lead to 12. The Purple Eagles tallied three more in the quarter to go up 18-3 before Gina Jaffurs (Leonardtown, Md.-St. Mary's Ryken) was able to find the back of the net, off an assist from Blackwell, with 11 seconds remaining to close out the game's scoring.
Despite the late boost, the Eagles dropped their inaugural home opener to Niagara, 18-4.
Game Notes
» Twenty-two Eagles made their collegiate lacrosse debuts this afternoon, including 10 of the game's starters.
» Four Eastern players, Ab. Alderman, Blackwell, Hodak, and Jaffurs, netted their first collegiate goals and the first four in EMU program history.
» Three Eagles notched a single assist in the contest, highlighted by Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio-Dublin-Scioto), Am. Alderman, and Blackwell.
» Blackwell was the sole Eagle to post both a goal and an assist after she helped Jaffurs to her first goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
» Ab. Alderman led the team in ground balls with two, while six Eagles recorded at least one in the setback.
» All eight of Eastern's shots were on frame (8-of-8).
»The four EMU players who scored goals this afternoon all are freshman who hail from the state of Maryland.
Program Firsts
» First Draw Control: Mackenzie Blackwell (lost)
» First Goal Scored: Abby Alderman (Q1, 7:55)
» First Assist: Amber Alderman (Q1, 7:55, on Abby Alderman goal)
» First Save: Giuliana Ditsky (Q1, 14:29)
» First Ground Ball: Edie Prager (Q1, 13:40)
» First Caused Turnover: Abby Alderman (Q1, 13:09)
» First Woman-Up Goal Scored: Abby Alderman (Q1, 7:55)
Up Next
Eastern returns to action with its first road contest when the Eagles venture to Rock Hills, S.C., March 3, to face the Eagles of Winthrop University at noon.
Team Stats
NIA
EMU
Shots
38
8
Turnovers
6
16
Caused Turnovers
13
6
Draw Controls
16
8
Free-Position Shots
3
2
Ground Balls
23
7
Game Leaders
Players
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
2
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
Players Mentioned
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ LacrosseM
/ Lacrosse
G
/ LacrosseM
/ LacrosseM
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
A
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