LEWISTON, N.Y. — Niagara women’s lacrosse head coach Wendy Stone had her phone buzzing more than usual on Sunday.
“I had 150-something text messages when we got on the bus, which is unheard of me,” Stone said.
The messages were congratulatory ones, after Stone’s team achieved a piece of Niagara history.
The Purple Eagles defeated Fairfield 11-10 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title game, ending the Stags’ five-year title run, and winning Niagara’s first lacrosse conference championship.
“Seeing everything that we’ve worked for, actually happen, it was unbelievable,” said Niagara attacker Rachel Crane.
"No one ever had a doubt,” Niagara midfielder Andra Savage said. “Like the whole week, we always said 'when we win, when we win, when we win.' No one ever said 'if,' and it wasn't even something we talked about or like came together. Everyone just knew that we were going to go out and win."
That confidence is a large part of the reason Niagara is now wading into uncharted waters.
Friday will see the Purple Eagles play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history when Niagara takes on Stony Brook.
"What we've been saying is anything we do from here on out is making history,” Niagara senior attacker Lexi Braniecki said. “Like, we did it on Sunday. This is the longest our program has been practicing, and anything we do from now on is just a new step and a new thing we're doing for our program that we get to leave hopefully better than we found it. I think that's something we all try to pride ourselves on."
Making the achievement even sweeter?
Friday’s game will take place just a short trip away in Syracuse.
“Basically, it’s like another home game for us,” Niagara goalie Jordan Roy said. “Two and half hours is nothing. We drove eight hours to Fairfield and a lot of us are from Syracuse. I’m from Syracuse, so going back home, we’ll have a lot of family there.”
Family that will get to watch this historic season last at least one more game.
“Getting to play even for another week with these girls is more than any of us could’ve even hoped for and asked for. I think we’re just mostly excited and happy to be playing lacrosse still,” Braniecki said.
And whenever the magical ride ends, it’s a year this team knows is leaving a lasting legacy at Niagara.
“I think a couple of the kids have said we woke up and we’re still champs. Yeah, we are. It’s one of those things that’s going to take some time and the quick turnaround and heading into the next thing in some ways is a really good thing,” said Stone. “In that it gives us something to focus on. When we have time, we’ll go back and look at it and we get to smile and be happy all over again.”
RELATED VIDEO: