Game Recap
Canisius freshman Gretta Dry broke the scoreless tie in the 54th minute and the Griffs never looked back as they rolled to a 4-0 victory versus visiting Niagara Wednesday night. Dry, who also tallied an assist, now leads the Golden Griffins in total points with 12 (four goals, four assists). Fellow freshman Alana Rossi posted her second shutout of her career. The win moves the Blue and Gold to 4-5-0 overall and 2-1-0 in conference play.
Canisius took a 2-0 lead in the 65th minute on a goal by senior Sabrina Fitzgerald, her third of the year. Dry picked up the assist on the play. The Griffs added another shortly there after in the 67th minute after sophomore Emily Kuta beat Niagara goalkeeper Shangyne Samuels from close range. Fitzgerald set up the team's third goal as she sent the ball to Kuta, who was able to redirect the pass into the back of the net. The Griffs capped the scoring in the 81st minute as sophomore Emily Czechowski sent a corner kick towards the net that ricocheted off the far post, off a Niagara defender and into the goal.
Rossi, who was not challenged all night, was credited with one save in the 80th minute on a ball that bounced right into her chest off a long shot. Samuels made four stops for the Purple Eagles, allowing three of the Griffs goals in 77 minutes of action, before being replaced by Shania van Nuland.
Coach Clark Postgame Comments
“It's the Battle of the Bridge. It's the MAAC. It's Western New York soccer. Right now, we finished two and four in the big four which is something, I don't think, we've done in a while. Each time we go out, even when we've lost, we've still been doing better against each team that we've played and tonight's another of those games. This was an obvious step forward. We got to keep it going now.”
Game Notes
• This was the 41st meeting between the two teams with Niagara holding the series lead, 23-16-2.
• Wednesday win was Canisius' first win over Niagara since the 2013 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship first round game, which was played in Orlando, Fla.
• In all four of Canisius' victories this season, Dry has been credited with three points on the power of a goal and an assist.
• Rossi has recorded 205:55 straight scoreless minutes in her last three home games.
Up Next
Canisius will return home on Saturday, Oct. 1 as they host Manhattan.
