The Canisius College Golden Griffins captured a 3-0 victory over Cleveland State on Sunday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex. Senior Brooke Bandazian broke the scoreless contest in the first half before the Griffs added two goals in the second half to seal their first victory of the season. The Griffs improved to 1-4-0, while the Vikings fell to 2-3-0.
With the pressure on the Cleveland State goal in the 39th minute, as junior Kelly McMahon fed a pass to Bandazian at the top of the 18-yard box. With one step, Bandazian blasted the deep shot from the top of the box to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead.
After the Griffs tallied their first goal, their offense began to open up with more fluid passing to move the ball down the field.
A minute prior to the Griffs' first goal of the game, sophomore Megan Mahoney had a chance roll through the goalmouth with a Vikings' back clearing the ball out.
Holding a 1-0 lead, the Griffs managed to counter a Vikings' offensive attack with one of their own. Coming down along the right side, senior Emily Paquette flipped a pass up to junior Brianna Smith, who lobbed the shot over the head of CSU goalkeeper Sarah Wood, to give the Griffs' the 2-0 advantage.
Fighting to extend the Griffs' two-goal lead, McMahon would collect her second helper of the day on a lead pass along the left wing to forward Brittany Bowen. Dribbling in on goal, Bowen was able to get behind the Vikings' last back to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The freshman fired a rolling shot in for her first career goal and the Griffs' 3-0 lead in the 80th minute.
Junior goalkeeper Megan Tock recorded the shutout victory for the Griffs with five saves.
Despite being outshot by the Vikings, 19-12, the Griffs made the difference in shots on goal. For the first game this season, the Griffs held an edge in shots on goal, 8-5.
The Griffs were led by Mahoney with three shots followed by Bandazian and McMahon with two shots each.
The Blue and Gold will be on the road for their next four contests. The team will return to action on Friday, September 7, versus Albany at 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: Tock's shutout was the second of her career and her first since the Griffs hosted Delaware State on Sept. 24, 2010... Bowen tallied her first career goal on her first career shot... Bandazian scored her fourth career gamewinner... McMahon's pair of assists was a career game-high in helpers and points... the Griffs improve their all-time record to 4-1-0 versus Cleveland State.
