NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Despite outscoring Niagara 4-0 in the fourth quarter, the Monmouth women's lacrosse team was unable to overcome the deficit and ultimately fell, 13-10, on Saturday afternoon in the MAAC opener.  
 
Monmouth (5-5, 0-1 MAAC) went into the final frame trailing 13-6 before Ella Spears delivered back-to-back goals to trim the deficit to five with 10:13 left to play. Maddie Murphy then scored less than a minute later with a strike to the top left of the net.
 
The Hawks' offense was kept at bay for a while until Caroline Brennan tallied a score with 1:25 on the clock to make it a three-goal game. However, Niagara (5-4, 1-0 MAAC) won the ensuing draw control and ran out the clock en route to picking up the win.
 
Cassidy Orban was all over the field for the Hawks, leading the offensive charge with a hat trick on three goals to go along with six draw controls, four ground balls and a career-high four caused turnovers. Ella Spears also recorded a multi-goal outing with two on the afternoon.
 
Murphy, Brennan and Hope Steuerwald all posted two-point outings after they each scored once and dished out an assist.
 
Defensively, Brianna Falco reeled in four ground balls and added five draw controls and three caused turnovers to her stat line. Gina Verrone logged season-high totals in caused turnovers (3) and ground balls (3).
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Today was disappointing. We must and we will move forward together as we take important lessons from this game so that we can become a better version of ourselves for our game against Manhattan on Wednesday."  
-Head Coach Jordan Trautman
 
-Orban notched her fourth hat trick of the season and third in as many games.
-She extended her point streak to 10 games. 
-Spears recorded her second career multi-goal performance.
-Brennan has tallied a point in nine straight outings.
-Steuerwald extended her goal and point streak to 10 games.
-The Hawks recorded their seventh straight game with double-digit goals scored.
-It was the second time this season that Monmouth held an opponent scoreless in a quarter.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outshot Niagara, 32-36.
-Seven different Hawks scored.
-Monmouth put 28 of its 32 shots on goal.
-The Hawks converted 13 of their 14 clears.
-Monmouth won 16 draw controls.  
-The Hawks corralled 21 ground balls.
-Monmouth tied its season-best total for caused turnovers with 14.

UP NEXT
The Hawks are back in action on Wednesday to play host to Manhattan at 3 p.m. at Kessler Stadium.