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Wendy Stone

 
Profile
The 2019 season will be the seventh for Wendy Stone as the Purple Eagles’ head women’s lacrosse coach.

In her six seasons as the head coach of the Purple Eagles, Stone has coached four All-MAAC First Team honorees: Elizabeth Benedict (2016), Carrie-Jo Farrugia (2015), Alexandra Higgins (2017 and 2018) and Rachel MacCheyne (2017 and 2018). Niagara has also produced 11 All-MAAC Second Team selections, 11 MAAC All-Rookie Team selections, and 58 MAAC All-Academic honorees under Stone's guidance. Additionally, MacCheyne became the program's first-ever IWLCA honoree after being named to the 2018 West/Midwest All-Region Second Team.

In 2018, the Purple Eagles went 8-9 in the regular season and made the MAAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The team also set a single-season record with 14 student-athletes named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for their high marks in the classroom.

Niagara capped the 2017 season with the team's first appearance in the MAAC semifinals since 2003, which came after a dominant 16-4 victory over Monmouth in the first round of the MAAC Championships. The Purple Eagles matched the efforts of the 2016 team with a 9-10 overall record and a 5-3 mark in MAAC play. The season was marked by record-setting performances at both ends of the field. Sophomore Rachel MacCheyne set Niagara single-season records in goals (60) and points (75), while junior Grace Hunt tied the program record with 38 assists. At the defensive end, Alexandra Higgins seized the program's single-season records in ground balls (58), draw controls (111) and caused turnovers (37). Higgins was named MAAC Defender of the Year and joined MacCheyne on the 2017 All-MAAC First Team. The 2017 graduating class was highlighted by defender Kara Martin, the program's career leader in ground balls (137) and goalkeeper Andrea Francisco, who ended her four-year career first all-time at Niagara in wins (28) and third in saves (478).