BALTIMORE, MD - Niagara senior and reigning MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year has been tabbed Preseason MAAC Defensive Player of the Year by Inside Lacrosse, the organization announced this afternoon.
 
Messenger is coming off a junior season where she played 679.28 minutes between the pipes for the Purple and White, making 135 saves and posting an 10.33 goals against average and .536 save percentage. Messenger posted 10-plus saves in eight of her 12 games played and allowed 10 or fewer goals in six games.
 
Messenger was the second Purple Eagle to be named MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year following Kara Grooms who won the award twice (2000 and 2001). Messenger, who was leading the NCAA in save percentage when the 2020 season was canceled, finished the 2021 regular season third in the nation in save percentage while also leading the MAAC in goals-against average and ground balls per game (3.4).
 
Messenger and the Purple Eagles will begin the 2022 season on Feb. 17 at Stetson.

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