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Wendy Stone
Wendy Stone was named head coach of the Niagara women's lacrosse program on August 8, 2012.
Stone has taken a team that averaged less than three wins per season in the six years prior to her arrival to new heights, winning 47 games in her first seven seasons. After leading the Purple Eagles to their first .500 record in 13 seasons in 2016, including a then program-best 5-3 MAAC mark, Stone repeated the feat each of the next two years, becoming the only coach to post winning conference records in three consecutive seasons since Niagara first fielded a varsity women's lacrosse team in 1996. Stone is the only coach in team history to post winning conference records in three consecutive seasons since Niagara first fielded a varsity women's lacrosse team in 1996. Additionally, she has guided the Purple Eagles to more postseason appearances (four) than all other head coaches combined (three). Prior to Stone’s arrival, the Purple Eagles hadn’t made the MAAC tournament since 2003.
In her eight seasons as the head coach of the Purple Eagles, Stone has coached 10 All-MAAC First Team honorees: Elizabeth Benedict (2016), Carrie-Jo Farrugia (2015), Alexandra Higgins (2017 and 2018), Rachel MacCheyne (2017, 2018, 2019), Shea Swartwout (2021), Michelle Messenger (2021 and 2022) Rachel Crane (2023) and Lexi Braniecki (2023). Niagara has also produced 18 All-MAAC Second Team selections, 19 MAAC All-Rookie Team selections, and 145 MAAC All-Academic honorees under Stone's guidance. Additionally, Stone helped Michelle Messenger (2022) and Rachel MacCheyne (2018) became the program's first-ever IWLCA honoree's. Messenger also became the second Purple Eagle to win MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year in back-to-back seasons under Stone's tutelage. Rachel Crane, the 2021 MAAC Rookie of the Year earned Co-Midfielder of Year in 2023, joining Michele Messenger as the only Purple Eagle to receive two major awards from the conference.
The 2022 season saw the Purple Eagles start 6-2 overall, the programs best eight game start to a season under Stone with wins over Oregon and Delaware. Niagara set program records in wins (12), goals scored (227), and scoring average (12.47). A total of four Purple Eagles scored 35 or more goals in 2023, including a league leading 56 from Rachel Crane. Niagara's first-year defender Sydney Huhtala recorded 41 caused turnovers and junior Riley Latray collected 42 assists, both of which set new program benchmarks. The Purple and White went on to win their first MAAC Championship game in two years, defeating No. 6 Mount St. Mary's 14-10 in the quarterfinal round, before falling to No. 2 Siena in the semi's.
Niagara was one of the MAAC's best teams in 2022 - finishing the regular season 6-2 in conference play to earn the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship. The Purple Eagles picked up non-conference wins against Youngstown, East Carolina and Marquette and defeated Fairfield in OT for the programs second win ever over the MAAC powerhouse. Niagara also continued its dominance over Canisius, winning its fourth-straight against the Battle of the Bridge Rival, erasing a six goal deficit to do so.
The 2021 season saw Niagara break the .500 mark for the first time since 2004 with an 8-5 overall record. The Purple and White set a program record with a 12.08 goals per game average in 2021 and the teams .620 win percentage is tied for the best in program history. The Purple Eagles defeated Quinnipiac in the MAAC Quarterfinal to advance to the MAAC Semi's where they were defeated by eventual MAAC Champion Fairfield. 2021 also saw Stone pick up her first-ever win against Battle of the Bridge Rival Canisius.
Although the 2020 season was cut short on March 12 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Purple Eagles showed lots of promise through the first seven games of the season, going 3-4, including a 2-0 mark at home. Sophomore goalie Michelle Messenger appeared in seven games, went 2-1 with four no-decisions, and led the nation in save percentage (.577) when the season was stopped. Senior attack Shea Swartwout was on the verge of a breakout season up front, accounting for 21 points (18 G, 3 A) in seven games, including three games with at least four goals.
The Purple Eagles saw plenty of successes and milestones both on the field and in the classroom in 2019. A program-record 15 student-athletes were named to the MAAC’s All-Academic Team. Highlights included a monumental 15-14 comeback win at Quinnipiac (April 6) that saw the team erase a nine-goal deficit and a 17-2 thumping of St. Bonaventure to open the season (Feb. 15). The victory over the Bonnies made Stone 7-0 all-time against Niagara’s area rival. MacCheyne became Niagara’s all-time leader in goals (187), points (237), draw controls (316). MacCheyne also shattered the single-season mark for draw controls (153), broke her own single-season goals record (62) and registered a program-record 75 points for the third consecutive season. Attack Caroline Crump moved up into the top five in several categories as well, including career points (second – 217), career goals (third – 151), and assists (fourth – 66) and was named an All-MAAC Second Team Attack selection.
In 2018, the Purple Eagles went 8-9 in the regular season and made the MAAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The team entered the final weekend at 5-2 in MAAC play, in a five-way tie for first place in the conference. For the fourth straight year, the team qualified for the MAAC postseason tournament. Junior attack Rachel MacCheyne became the program's first-ever IWLCA honoree when she was named to the West/Midwest All-Region Second Team, designating her as one of the 32 best players in the region, alongside players from schools including Denver, Northwestern, Penn State and Stanford. The team also placed 14 student-athletes named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for their high marks in the classroom. The senior class of 2018 graduated as the winningest group in team history, racking up 32 wins between 2015 and 2018.
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 tournament. The Purple Eagles finished with a 9-10 overall record and a 5-3 mark in MAAC play. Season highlights included record-setting performances at both ends of the field. MacCheyne set Niagara single-season records in goals (60) and points (75), while junior Grace Hunt tied the program record with 38 assists. At Defensively, Alexandra Higgins seized several single-season program records, including ground balls (58) and caused turnovers (37). For her efforts, Higgins was named MAAC Defender of the Year. Goalkeeper Andrea Francisco ended her four-year career first all-time at Niagara in wins (28) and third in saves (478).
Stone’s first breakout season at Niagara came in 2016. The Purple Eagles finished with a 9-9 record overall and a 5-3 record in MAAC play, the most conference wins in program history. The Purple Eagles led the MAAC with 19.94 ground balls per game and 9.78 caused turnovers per game, ranking second in the conference in scoring defense allowing 9.83 goals per game.
A second consecutive 3-5 MAAC record in Stone’s third season with the Purple Eagles led to the team’s first berth in the MAAC Championships since 2003. Niagara finished 6-12 overall, picking up non-conference wins against Cincinnati, Stetson, and St. Bonaventure.
The resurgence of the Niagara women’s lacrosse program was evident during the 2014 season as the Purple Eagles finished 7-9 overall and fifth in the MAAC with a 3-5 record. The seven overall victories and the three conference wins were the most in a single season since 2004.
During her first season with Niagara, Stone saw a veteran core mesh with a talented group of fresh faces. Her first victory as a Purple Eagle came in a 9-7 overtime win over Detroit Mercy (March 7). Niagara also captured its first victory against area rival St. Bonaventure in program history in her debut season, winning 9-7.
In addition to her work at Niagara, Stone currently serves as the team manager for the United States Women’s Lacrosse World Cup team, where she is responsible for scheduling, meals, transportation, housing, equipment and uniforms.
Prior to Niagara, Stone spent three seasons at Longwood University, first as an assistant in 2009 and 2010 before being named the interim head coach in 2011. At Longwood, Stone guided the Lancers to a 2010 National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) Championship and helped develop 12 All-NLC selections, two NLC Midfielders of the Year, an NLC Player of the Year and an NLC Goalkeeper of the Year.
Stone coached varsity lacrosse, varsity field hockey, and junior varsity ice hockey at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts from 2006-09, where she also taught English, history, and was the assistant athletic director. Additionally, she has served as a coach and coordinator of the Lower New England teams for the US Lacrosse Women’s Division National Tournament and the 2010 LadyRoc Rubies. Stone was involved in the formation of CityLAX, an organization that focused on the growth of lacrosse in New York City.
In 2005, Stone earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. She was a standout student-athlete in lacrosse, field hockey, and ice hockey. Williams earned trips to the NCAA Tournament in each sport during her time there. Stone captained the 2005 lacrosse team that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, and she was also honored as a Scholar Athlete.
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