Sophomore Jenny
Griffin opened the scoring and senior Sylvia
Kowalski netted the game-winner as the Golden Griffins defeated cross-town rival Buffalo 3-1 Sunday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex. With
the win the Griffs hold a 6-0-1 record headed into conference play, while the
Bulls slipped to 1-7-0 on the season.
Griffin's goal came in the 16th minute of play
when a pass from Kowalski led to a loose ball in the box. Griffin capitalized
on the ball among three Buffalo defenders as she earned her third goal of the
season on a shot into the top of the net.
The Griffs took a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute
when Kowalski knocked in a cross from sophomore Kelly Reinwald, who earned the ball on a long pass up the field
from junior Laura Ellis. Both
Reinwald and Ellis were credited with an assist.
"The girls played a really great first half and that set the
tone for the game," said head coach Jim
Wendling. "We actually started the second half very, very well."
In the 71st minute of play, a Buffalo defender
deflected the ball into their own net to up the score 3-0 in favor of Canisius.
Buffalo answered their own goal ten minutes later with a header
by Sara Hillard from a long pass off a free kick by Natasha Arana, getting on
the board with just eight minutes left in the game.
"Late in the second half I wasn't too excited about how we
played, and because we were controlling the game we slowed down our play," Wendling said. "Overall I was certainly very happy. The girls played smart, played
very well and it was nice to beat UB in a cross-town rivalry game."
The Griffs are back on the field Friday Sept 25 when they
open conference play against Rider at the Demske Sports Complex. Game time is
set for 7 p.m.
Game Notes: The Griffs improved to 10-22-2 all-time against Buffalo... The 2009 team continues its best start in school history... With her three points Sunday, Kowalski moves into seventh all-time in career goals (24) and ninth in career points (56)... Her game-winning goal against UB was her fifth of the season, which leads the MAAC.
