January 24th, 2024
Indoor Track & Field Breaks Multiple Records at SPIRE Midwest Open
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins Indoor Track and Field team took part in the annual SPIRE Midwest open at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. It would be a fantastic day for the Golden Griffins as they were ready to race with both the men and women breaking school records once again this year.
Last year, Sophomore Braden Tent and Senior Mauara Jordan both broke school records. Tent in the men's 600 Meter and Jordan in the women's 400 Meter. This year, Tent would repeat the school record as he set a new record in the same race as he finished 7th with a time of 1:23.80. Graduate Student Dominic Clementi came in just behind Tent in 8th with a time of 1:24.11.
In the men’s 60 Meter, Sophomore Arthur Hartel placed 71st, breaking his own school record as Hartel finished at 7.80. In the men’s 3,000 Meter, there were 2 runners that finished in the top-10 for the Golden Griffins. Graduate Student Andrew Perrealut finished with a time of 8:25.44, placing 4th while Graduate Student Tom Appenheimer placed 8th with a time of 8:31.52.
On the women's side, Jordan was looking for the same success as she did last year and last week at the Utica Ice Breaker Invite. She was able to do just that as she was the 3rd Golden Griffin to break a program record in the women's 400 Meter as she finished 1st with a time of 58.04. In the women’s 1 Mile, Graduate Student Olivia Moran won the event, taking 1st place while also breaking a program record by just a few seconds with a time of 5:02.36.
In the women's 600 Meter, Freshman Ella Herman crossed the finish line at 9th with a time of 1:45.39. Also in the women’s 3,000 Meter, 3 Golden Griffins placed in the top-10 as Senior Jules Jones led the way, placing 4th with a time of 10:18.76. Sophomore Jacqueline Appenheimer placed 7th with a time of 10:28.47, and Graduate Student Marissa Silba finished with a time of 10:33.30 which placed her 8th.
Overall, the Golden Griffins were very proud of the accomplishments and the meet at the SPIRE Midwest Open as they will continue to build team chemistry throughout their season. Next for the Golden Griffins, they will return to the track and field this upcoming weekend as they will head to the campus of Penn State University where they will compete at the Penn State National in University Park, Pennsylvania with both start times set for 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
January 22nd, 2024
Big 2nd Half from Peacocks Sinks Men’s Basketball into 3rd Straight Loss
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team were right back in action on Sunday afternoon in Jersey City, New Jersey at the Yanitelli Center, facing the St. Peter’s Peacocks in MAAC play. The Golden Griffins were looking for a bounce back shooting game as they have been struggling in that aspect while also being without Senior guard Siem Unjiendeall as he would once again miss the contest. The Golden Griffins fell due to a huge 2nd half by the Peacocks, losing by a final score of 70-59.
It was not a pretty start to this game for the Golden Griffins as they got down big in the 1st half after a 12-2 Peacock run, taking a 12-point lead with about 10 minutes left in the 1st half. The Golden Griffins would go on a run themselves, with a 19-7 run, responding to the Peacocks throughout the next 7 minutes to tie up the game at 31 right before halftime. The Golden Griffins would take the lead at the end of the half with a layup made by Junior forward Frank Mitchell to take a 1-point lead at halftime, 37-36.
However, coming out of halftime, the Peacocks would respond with a 15-5 run to swing back the momentum of the game, and they would never look back. This gave the Peacocks a 10-point lead. The Golden Griffins would cut down the lead to 5, but were unable to keep that going as the Peacocks would score again to extend their lead to a 9-point cushion with about 5 minutes to go in the game. The Peacocks won 70-59 after those 5 minutes were up.
The Golden Griffins continued to struggle, shooting a season-low 33.3% from the field and went only 6-16 from beyond the arc overall. Turnovers were costly for the Golden Griffins in this game as they turned the ball over 16 times which resulted in 17 Peacock points.
Coming off the bench, the leading scorer of the Golden Griffins was Sophomore guard Devean Williams, who posted a career-high 15 points. He also added a career high of playing time with nearly 30 minutes in the game. The Golden Griffins out rebounded the Peacocks 43-34, but the poor shooting and the turnovers cost the Golden Griffins.
With the loss, the Golden Griffins dropped to 7-11 overall while also falling to 2-6 in MAAC play. Next for the Golden Griffins, they will head back home to Buffalo as they will close out the month of January with a pair of home games that begin on Friday night when they face the Manhattan Jaspers. Tipoff is set for 7 PM, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 59 points, 43 rebounds, 17 turnovers, 5 blocks, 7 steals, 33.3% FG, 37.5% 3PT, and 63.3% FT.
Leading Scorer: Williams 15 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Assist, and 3 Steals.
Peacocks: 70 points, 34 rebounds, 10 turnovers, 2 blocks, 10 steals, 42.1% FG, 42.1% 3PT, and 70% FT.
Leading Scorer: Sophomore forward Corey Washington 24 Points, 9 Rebounds, 1 Assist and 2 Steals.
January 21st, 2024
Shooting Woes Continue For Men’s Basketball in 70-58 Defeat
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team returned to the road on Friday after a quick 2-game homestand at the Koessler Athletic Center where they split. They were back on the road in New Rochelle, New York to face a conference foe in the Iona Gaels. The Golden Griffins were trying to bounce back after a tough day of shooting on Monday afternoon against the Fairfield Stags. The Golden Griffins would continue to struggle as they only shot 48% in a 70-58 defeat at the hands of the Gaels.
The Golden Griffins would go on a 9-4 run to take a 4-point lead at the beginning of the game. The Gaels would answer that run by going on a 12-2 run on their own to give themselves a 28-22 lead with 2 minutes left in the 1st half. The Golden Griffins would continue their 3-point struggles in this game as they were 1-8 from beyond the arc in the 1st half. The Gaels extended their lead to 36-27 going into halftime with the Gaels scoring 8 of the final 10 points of the half.
The Golden Griffins would show some fight in the 2nd half where they got within 5 points of the Gaels with less than 2 minutes in with baskets from Junior forward Frank Mitchell and Sophomore guard Cam Palesse. A Gaels timeout got them back on a run and back in control of the game. The Gaels would not look back on their lead as the Golden Griffins struggled during the 2nd half as their shooting woes continued. They would ultimately fall to the Gaels with a 70-58 final score.
Prior to the game, the Golden Griffins found out that they would be without Senior guard Siem Uijtendaal since he had a lower-body injury. This gave many players the opportunity to play extra minutes, but it also brought about turnovers from the Golden Griffins as a team. After the loss, Golden Griffins Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon spoke about the turnovers that really cost the Golden Griffins.
“It is a combination of guys playing extended minutes, and their (Iona’s) style of play,” said Coach Witherspoon. ““We have to build off guys having extended minutes.”
Mitchell led the Golden Griffins in scoring with 13 points and 17 rebounds. It was his 8th double-double of the season. With the loss, the Golden Griffins dropped to 7-10 overall while also falling to 2-5 in MAAC play. They traveled to Jersey City, New Jersey this afternoon to face the St. Peter’s Peacocks on the road for their 2nd meeting of the season.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 58 points, 35 rebounds, 19 turnovers, 1 block, 4 steals, 47.9% FG, 17% 3PT, and 60% FT.
Leading Scorer: Mitchell 13 Points, 17 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Block and 1 Steal.
Gaels: 70 points, 30 rebounds, 8 turnovers, 4 blocks, 8 steals, 41% FG, 37% 3PT, and 66.7% FT.
Leading Scorer: Graduate Student guard Idan Tretout 14 Points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Assists and 2 Steals.
January 20th, 2024
Women’s Basketball Makes History in Victory over Bobcats
Written by: Daeshaun Williams
On Thursday, the Canisius Golden Griffins women’s basketball team made history. For the 1st time in program history, the Golden Griffins beat the Quinnipiac Bobcats. They did this in stellar fashion with a 17-point comeback. The game was held at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, New York, and the Quinnipiac Bobcats were 3-2 coming off of a win against the Iona Gaels heading into the matchup. On the other hand, the Golden Griffins were 2-3 in their last 5 games, but were coming off of a loss to the Rider Broncs. The Golden Griffins defeated the Bobcats by a final score of 68-59.
The Bobcats won the tip, and the Golden Griffins started off slow on offense. Halfway through the 1st quarter, the Golden Griffins were down 7-2 with their only score coming from 2 free throws by Sophomore forward Sisi Eleko. The Bobcats made a statement in the 1st quarter, shooting 46% from the field and 33% from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Golden Griffins still hadn’t made a field goal by the end of the quarter. The Golden Griffins were shooting an abysmal 0-13 from the field and 0-5 from 3-point range. The Bobcats led 13-4 by the end of the 1st quarter.
The Golden Griffins started the 2nd quarter on a good note by getting their 1st field goal off of a layup made by Graduate Student guard Grace Heeps. The Golden Griffins ran an offense in the 2nd quarter that had a heavy emphasis on getting the ball inside and making plays at the basket. Defense continued to be a factor for the Golden Griffins, forcing 9 turnovers in the 1st half. The Golden Griffins started to make the most of these turnovers by going on an 11-2 run that was capped off with a deep 3-pointer by Heeps. The Golden Griffins were down by 10 after this run, but the offense stalled a little which sent the Golden Griffins into halftime down 37-22.
The halftime stats didn’t look pretty for the Golden Griffins since they were only shooting 18% from the field and 25% from long range. The Golden Griffins’ lead scorers were Junior guard Athina Lexa (7 points), Eleko (6 points), and Heeps (8 points). At this point in the game, the Golden Griffins only had 4 points in the paint.
The Golden Griffins opened the 2nd half with 7 points in the first 20 seconds of the 3rd quarter. They continued to score and get stops as big defensive plays came from Senior guard Mackenzie Amalia and Heeps, helping to cut the deficit down to 7 halfway through the 3rd. The Koessler Athletic Center had started to get a little loud by this point in the game after being dead silent in the 1st quarter, and it erupted after Amalia stole the ball and got an-and-1 basket on the other end of the floor. The Golden Griffins, by the end of the 3rd quarter, had outscored the Bobcats 25-12 and were now only down by 3 with the score after three being 50-47 in favor of the Bobcats.
The Golden Griffins were ready to finish this game. The 4th quarter started as Graduate Student guard Bri Rozzi hit a game-tying 3-pointer that had the Koessler Athletic Center going ballistic. The very next possession, a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Amalia, gave the Golden Griffins their 1st lead of the night. The Golden Griffins took this lead and ran with it, finishing the comeback and winning the game 68-59. After the game, Amalia was interviewed by ESPN’s Jackson Webster about the team winning a huge conference game.
“It feels amazing; this was a huge win for us,” said Amalia. “They were the #2 seed, and we knew they were coming for us, but we were coming for them. We started off a little shaky in the 1st half, but Coach came in with a little pep talk, and we weren’t going to let that happen, so it was great to get that W.”
At one point in this game, the Golden Griffins were down by 17 points. At one point, the Golden Griffins had never beaten the Quinnipiac Bobcats. All of that is in the past. The Golden Griffins used great defense to stall until they found their rhythm on offense. They forced 19 total turnovers and scored 18 points off of them. This win belongs to the fans in attendance as well as the fans at the Koessler Athletic Center kept the Golden Griffins in the game throughout the 1st half and kept the energy high as the Golden Griffins finished the game.
The Golden Griffins played against the Manhattan Jaspers this afternoon. The game was at 1 PM at the Koessler Athletic Center. Coverage was on ESPN+ and is available for replay on the ESPN app or at ESPN.com.
Player Stats for the game
Eleko: 17 PTS 6 REB 62 FG%.
Amalia: 10 PTS 7 AST 3 STL.
Heeps: 15 PTS 7 REB 2 STL.
January 19th, 2024
Moran Leads Indoor Track and Field to Excellent Opening Meet of 2024
Written by: Andrew Nowel
The Canisius Golden Griffins indoor track and field team opened their season at the Utica Ice Breaker Invite last Friday. It would be a very successful day for the Golden Griffins as both the men and women raced well, earning a couple of top finishes throughout the day. The women were led by Graduate Student Olivia Moran once again as she helped them place 3rd as a team. The men were led by Senior Ronan McDonald, helping them to place 11th as a team and finishing off a very good start to what the Golden Griffins hope to be another amazing season.
The women had an excellent start to their season, and it was all created by Moran’s excellent day. Coming off an incredible final cross country season, Moran was ready to begin the indoor season with yet another top performance. She did just that with a 1st place finish in the 3000 Meters with a time of 10:02.66, outracing the Siena Saint who finished 2nd by just under 4 seconds. Moran also helped the Golden Griffins place 5th in the 4 x 400 Relay, along with her teammates, 5th Year Marissa Silba, Senior Jules Jones, and Junior Kayla Schmidt, with a time of 4:28.76.
The Golden Griffins were led by Senior Maura Jordan in the 200 Meters as she placed 1st with a time of 26.84, and Sophomore Aniya Hugley placed 5th with a time of 27.86, giving the Golden Griffins a higher score. It wasn’t just the upperclassmen racing well as Freshman Julia Hise placed 8th in the 500 Meters with a time of 1:31.82.
Overall, the women raced well, earning a 3rd place finish with a total score of 71, outracing the Saints by 3 points. This was a great way to kick off the season for the Golden Griffins on the women’s side.
The men also had a great opening meet as McDonald raced well in a couple of events. He placed 2nd in the 800 Meters with a time of 2:00.10 as well as 5th in the 4 x 400 Relay with his teammates, Senior Kevin Board, Freshman Joseph Capuzzo, and Sophomore Braden Tent, earning a time of 3:43.90.
The Golden Griffins also had an 8th place finish in the 800 Meters as Senior Nick Dauphinee finished with a time of 2:06.41. The Golden Griffins also had a lot of runners in the 1000 Meter race that ran very well. Leading the way was Tent, placing 8th with a time of 2:41.44. Junior Drew Braden earned a 13th place finish with a time of 2:44.67 followed by Junior Jacob Raichel who placed 15th with a time of 2:45.93. Seniors Collin Rice and Tom Appenheimer placed 16th and 17th with times of 2:47.22 and 2:48.89 respectively while Board placed 18th with a time of 2:49.57.
Overall, the men had a lot of good races on the track, and they hope to continue it the rest of the season. The men finished with an 11th place finish as a team, sitting near the bottom of the pack in this meet with a total score of 29.
The Golden Griffins will return to the track and field tomorrow as they head to Geneva, Ohio to compete against the Spire Institute with the meet beginning at 9 AM.
January 17th, 2024
Hernandez’s OT Winner Powers Ice Hockey Past Tigers in Huge Conference Matchup
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins ice hockey team were back on the ice with a rescheduled game in Rochester, New York to face the #20 ranked RIT Tigers on Tuesday night at the Gene Polisseni Center. The Golden Griffins were looking to build off a 4-1 win against the Mercyhurst Lakers in their previous game, and they would be up for a tough task in this one as the Tigers were nationally ranked while also being a conference rival. Behind 2 goals from Senior forward Randy Hernandez, the Golden Griffins powered their way past the Tigers in a thriller OT finish of 3-2.
The 1st period was scoreless as neither team could put the puck past either goalie. That would change as 7 minutes into the 2nd period, the Tigers found the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead. 4 minutes later, Hernandez tied the game at 1, his 4th goal of the season, for the Golden Griffins on the power play, finishing off a cross ice pass from Senior forward Max Kouznetsov, his 8th assist of the season. Freshman forward Matteo Giampa also assisted on the goal, his 9th, and the score was 1-1 after 2 periods.
In the 3rd period, the Tigers would get back the lead, adding a power play goal of their own that put the Tigers back in front 2-1 with 13 minutes left in the game. The Tigers continued to keep up a lot of pressure in the Golden Griffins zone, but Senior goalie David Fessenden would make 20 saves in the 3rd which was key to keep the Golden Griffins in the game.
With just over 5 minutes remaining, the Golden Griffins down by 1, Senior defenseman Jackson Decker would find the puck on his stick and fired it into the back of the net, tying the score at 2 with the goal being unassisted. It was Decker’s 5th goal of the season. It would remain 2-2 after regulation as the Golden Griffins found a way to force overtime.
The Golden Griffins got a big opportunity during OT when they began a power play, trying to find a way to score the game-winning goal. They successfully did that as Hernandez fired a wrist shot at the net, finding its way into the back of the net with just over 2 minutes into OT to give the Golden Griffins a 3-2 upset victory over the Tigers. It was Hernandez’s 5th goal of the season, and it was assisted by Graduate Student defenseman David Melaragni, his 5th, and Giampa, his 10th. Randy Hernandez spoke, after the game, about a win like this for the team, and the impact that it has going forward.
“It’s huge; it creates momentum; it fires the boys up, so we are going to keep sticking to the process by listening to the coaches, watching video, and continuing to improve knowing we are capable of getting it done,” said Hernandez. “We’re getting a lot more patient and creative once we get to the blue line, finding time to set it up, and [we’re] playing a little more confidently, so we just have to stick with the process and get ready for Niagara.”
The key into getting the win was getting outstanding goaltending from Fessenden, making a career-high of 44 saves on 46 shots. Fessendan played outstandingly for the Golden Griffins, keeping them in the entire game. Golden Griffins Head Coach Trevor Large also spoke postgame on overcoming the challenges of the rescheduled game, being out of a routine, and still being able to get the win.
“The reality is [that] the college hockey season brings chaos,” said Coach Large. “I am very proud of this group; we know how to enjoy the chaos; we handled it, I thought, very well. We’ll need to do that for the future and I’m ready for it.”
With the win, the Golden Griffins improved their record to 8-12-3 overall (7-5-3 in the AHA). Next for the Golden Griffins, they will start a home-and-home series against their conference rival the Niagara Purple Eagles in the Battle of the Bridge on Alumni Night and in the Athletes for Athletes game at the LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo. Puck drop is set for 7 PM on Friday night to kick off the series.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins- 28 shots, 0 rating, 50% in faceoffs, 12 penalty minutes, and 10 blocked shots.
Fessendan recorded 44 Saves and 2 goals allowed.
Tigers- 46 shots, 0 rating, 50% in faceoffs, 16 penalty minutes, and 12 blocked shots.
Tigers Junior goalie recorded 25 saves with 3 goals allowed.
January 16th, 2024
Stags Dominate Men’s Basketball 88-63 in Rescheduled Game
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team returned to the court at the Koessler Athletic Center on a Martin Luther King Day matinee against the Fairfield Stags. This game was supposed to be played on Sunday afternoon, but, due to driving bans and the lake effect snowstorm that hit the Western New York area, it was rescheduled to Monday afternoon. The Golden Griffins were coming off a hard fought win against the Siena Saints on Friday night and were looking to get a win streak going. However, the Golden Griffins would not look like themselves on Monday afternoon as they would fall to the Stags 88-63.
Overall, it was just an off day for the Golden Griffins as nothing would go their way for them, and it started at tipoff, going down early by 8 less than 2 minutes into the contest. The Stags would continue to build on that lead the entire game as they would never have their lead trimmed down to anything less than 3 points. The closest the Golden Griffins would get to tying the game would be 6 at 24-18, but then a 10-0 run broke out for the Stags, who ran away with the game, leading by 19 at the half, 47-28.
The Golden Griffins were struggling shooting from beyond the arc only making 3-20 in the game which was very uncharacteristic for the Golden Griffins. The Golden Griffins continued their struggles during the 2nd half, shooting 38% from the field and made only one 3-pointer in the entire 2nd half. The lead would only grow bigger for the Stags as they would take advantage scoring 50 points in the paint, finishing off the game with a final score of 88-63.
After the game, Golden Griffins Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon mentioned that Senior guard Siem Uijtendaal got hurt during the 1st half, only playing 9 minutes throughout the game, while Junior guard Tre Dinkins was also limping in the game as well.
"Offensively, we are having trouble finding any rhythm, and then when it goes bad, right now, it's not like we have a bunch of new guys who [we] can put in to play,” said Coach Witherspoon. “Today, Siem couldn't go in the 2nd half because he's hurt, and then Dinkins was limping. That puts us in a really tough spot.”
With the loss, the Golden Griffins dropped to 7-9 overall while also falling to 2-4 in MAAC play. Next for the Golden Griffins, they will return to the road on Friday night when they travel to New Rochelle, New York to face the Iona Gaels. Tipoff is set for 7 PM.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 63 points, 36 rebounds, 12 turnovers, 1 blocks, 7 steals, 38.2% FG, 15% 3PT, and 53.3% FT.
Leading Scorer: Dinkins 17 Points, 2 Rebounds, 4 Assists and 2 Steals.
Stags: 88 points, 39 rebounds, 11 turnovers, 3 blocks, 5 steals, 57.1% FG, 50% 3PT, and 85.7% FT.
Leading Scorer: Freshman forward Peyton Smith 17 Points, 8 Rebounds, 2 Assists and 1 Block.
January 15th, 2024
Broncs 3rd Quarter Run Sinks Women’s Basketball 76-63
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins women’s basketball team finished up their New Jersey road trip as they traveled to face the Rider Broncs on Saturday afternoon. Coming into the game, the Golden Griffins were trying to build off a win they got in their previous game against the St Peter’s Peacocks. However, the Golden Griffins would struggle, and after a 3rd quarter surge from the Broncs, the Golden Griffins fell by a final score of 76-63.
The Broncs took a 1st quarter lead by 1 early on, and then went on a 7-3 run in the opening 2:30 of the 2nd quarter. The Golden Griffins would respond with a 9-4 run themselves to tie the game at 24 with less than 6 minutes to go before halftime. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way with the Golden Griffins unable to pull ahead of the Broncs who led by 1, 37-36, at halftime.
The Broncs opened things up in the 3rd quarter as they went on an 18-7 run to make it a 13-point deficit as the Broncs' defensive pressure was forcing the Golden Griffins to miss their shots. The Golden Griffins struggled by not making anything from beyond the arc throughout the 3rd quarter while also shooting 33.3% from the field.
The Golden Griffins would try to cut into the Broncs lead with a few free throws. A basket cut the lead down to 9, but their shooting struggles would continue into the 4th quarter as the Golden Griffins made only 2 of 13 shots from the field in the 4th. This would be the difference maker in the game because the Broncs took advantage of the Golden Griffins’ mistakes, and the Broncs took it by 13, winning it by a final score of 76-63.
Overall, the Broncs shot over 50% from the field and from beyond the arc. They took advantage of the Golden Griffins’ turnovers scoring 22 points off of the 17 turnovers while the Golden Griffins were unable to take advantage of Broncs’ turnovers as they scored 8 points off of the 17 turnovers. Sophomore forward Sisi Eleko continued to be unstoppable like she has been all season, and she had yet another huge game, earning her 9th double-double of the season by scoring 20 points and earning 13 rebounds. After the game, Golden Griffins Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh commented about the loss.
“Disappointed in how we came out; I don't think we played well defensively which allowed Rider to gain confidence needed to score a lot of points in the 1st half,” said Coach Nusseibeh. “Rider went off offensively and that just cannot happen. Lock in. When you hit a little bit of adversity, you lock in. The message to the team is this: [it] was disappointing, but we have to be able to learn from this.”
With the loss, the Golden Griffins suffered their 2nd conference loss of the season dropping their conference record to 4-2 and 9-6 overall. Next for the Golden Griffins, they will head back home to Buffalo and host a 2-game homestand, starting with the Quinnipiac Bobcats at the Koessler Athletic Center on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 6 PM, and the game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 63 points, 32 rebounds, 17 turnovers, 3 blocks, 9 steals, 35.7% FG, 32% 3PT, and 78.9% FT.
Leading Scorer: Eleko 20 Points and 13 Rebounds.
Broncs: 76 points, 28 rebounds, 17 turnovers, 2 blocks, 11 steals, 55.3% FG, 50% 3PT, and 72.7% FT.
Leading Scorer: Senior guard Makayla Firebaugh 20 Points 6 Rebounds and 3 Assists.
January 14th, 2024
Swim and Dive Fall in Opening 2024 Meet against Vikings
Written by: Andrew Nowel
The Canisius Golden Griffins swim and dive team spent most of the winter break in Florida as they did a lot of team bonding and working out to prepare for the 2024 part of their schedule. The Golden Griffins jumped back into the pools for the 1st time in 2024 as they traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to face the Cleveland State Vikings last Thursday. It wouldn’t be a successful trip to Cleveland as the Golden Griffins fell to the Vikings on the men’s side 205-75 and on the women’s side 179-108.
There were some bright spots on both sides as the women had a couple of top finishes throughout the meet. Senior Jordan O’Connor earned a 1st place finish in the 50 Free with an excellent time of 27.43. She also earned a 2nd place finish in the 100 Free with a time of 54.08. O’Connor was pleased with the performances from her and the team as whole even though the team didn’t officially win the meet.
O’Connor wasn’t the only swimmer on the women’s side that raced well as Freshman Evie Leighton kept pace with O’Connor and earned a 1st place finish in the 200 Free with a time of 1:56.17 and a 2nd place finish in the 500 Free with a time of 5:19.09.
Both O’Connor and Leighton raced well, and it helped their teammates to stay motivated and race well as well. Junior Brenna McLaughlin earned a 1st place finish with a time of 4:37.39 in the 400 IM and Freshman Sarajo Gardner finished 2nd in the 100 Back with a time of 1:01.04. Overall, the women raced well, but fell 179-108 to the Vikings.
The men raced well as well behind Freshman Marin de Villard’s 100 Back 1st place finish and a 3rd place finish in the 200 Free. de Villard swam a 50.62 in the 100 Back and a 1:45.52 in the 200 Free to lead the way for the men.
Freshman Tom McCabe had a great day with a 2nd place finish in the 500 Free with a time of 4:43.08 which was a personal best. Both de Villard and McCabe helped the men to feel confident in other races such as the 100 Breast where Sophomore Sam Vidal earned a 2nd place finish with a time of 58.83.
Overall, the men would race well, but came up short with a 205-75 defeat to the Vikings. Golden Griffins Head Coach Scott Vanderzell was pleased with how the team had worked over the break and was generally happy with the team’s performance in Cleveland, but knew that they still had work to do in preparation for the MAAC Championships.
The Golden Griffins would have returned to the pool yesterday afternoon, but the meet against the John Carroll Blue Streaks was postpone, so check gogriffs.com for updates on when that meet will be rescheduled. The Golden Griffins will return to the pool regardless on Saturday at 12 PM on the road in Lewiston, New York against their rival the Niagara Purple Eagles.
January 13th, 2024
Men’s Basketball Snaps 4-Game Skid with 67-63 victory over Saints
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team returned back home at the Koessler Athletic Center on a wet and cold Friday night for the 1st time in 37 days, seeking a win they have not gotten since their last home game on December 7th. The Golden Griffins were coming in on a 4-game losing streak off an overtime loss to the Rider Broncs last Sunday. The Golden Griffins would find a way to break the losing streak back on the home court as they won 67-63 over the Siena Saints, a MAAC opponent.
The game was low scoring with both the Golden Griffins and Saints trading baskets throughout the contest, but toward the end of the 1st half, the Golden Griffins went on a 9-2 run to separate themselves a bit from the Saints to end up leading at halftime by 7, 29-22. The Golden Griffins continued to extend their lead into the 2nd half to make it as much as an 11-point lead. However, the Saints still chipped away to cut the lead back down to 7, and then a Saint run of 8-0 run gave them the lead for the first time since the middle of the 1st half.
The Saints’ lead would not last long as Golden Griffins Junior guard TJ Gadsden had himself a game as he, coming off the bench, had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Gadsden knocked down a huge 3-pointer to answer the Saints taking the lead which gave the Golden Griffins the lead back with 5 minutes remaining in the contest.
The Golden Griffins would not look back from there and finished the victory with a game-sealing dunk from Senior forward Bryce Okpoh. Free throws from Junior guard Tre Dinkins would finish off the scoring for the Golden Griffins as they would take it by a final of 67-63.
Overall, this was a good team effort that led them to victory as the Golden Griffins had 5 different players go into double-digit scoring on the night which contributed to the win, but it was Gadsden, coming off the bench, and making some big shots in the game when it was important. After the game, Gadsden spoke on the win and what he and the team want to keep doing to win for games, especially in conference play.
“It was just coming out, being aggressive, and trying to make my mark on the game,” said Gadsden. “I was trying to make plays and impact the game no matter what it looks like. Staying focused; lock in on the preparation and be ready to fight again.”
Golden Griffins Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon spoke post game as well complimenting Gasden’s night.
"I thought TJ brought some good energy and determination off the bench, and that's what we need from him. We have a long way to go, but he gave us a good effort tonight," said Coach Witherspoon. "I think Bryce Okpoh was big off the bench as well. He gave us great energy and 6 offensive rebounds. None of them were bigger than that one late on the tip-dunk. I think he was challenged because he had to guard a guard a lot of the time, but he gave us some great energy as well.”
With the win, the Golden Griffins improved their MAAC record to 2-3 and snapped the 4-game losing streak, improving their overall record to 7-8 on the season. Next for the Golden Griffins, they will be finishing their quick 2-game homestand against the Fairfield Stags on Monday afternoon after a winter storm forced the game to be moved from tomorrow to Monday. Tipoff is now set for 12 PM with the game being broadcasted on ESPN+.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 67 points, 36 rebounds, 14 turnovers, 2 blocks, 4 steals, 40.4% FG, 28.6% 3PT, and 77.3% FT.
Leading Scorer: Gadsden 14 Points, 8 Rebounds, 3 Assists and 1 Steal.
Saints: 63 points, 39 rebounds, 12 turnovers,1 block, 7 steals, 36.7% FG, 20% 3PT, and 71,4% FT.
Leading Scorer: Redshirt Junior guard Sean Durugordon 30 Points, 12 Rebounds, and 1 Assist.
January 12th, 2024
Women’s Basketball Uses 43-Point 1st Half to Power Past Peacocks
Written by: Andrew Nowel
The Canisius Golden Griffins began yet another road trip as they were in Jersey City, New Jersey to face the Saint Peter’s Peacocks last night. After a tough loss in their previous game to the Fairfield Stags, the Golden Griffins were ready for a win, and it looked like it in warm-ups. The Golden Griffins scored 43 points in the 1st half, seeming to not miss during the half which led to a 59-44 victory for the Golden Griffins.
The Golden Griffins got off to a great start, going on an 8-0 run to begin the game. Sophomore forward Sisi Eleko once again stood out during the beginning of the game, scoring all 8 of those points on 4 layups. The Peacocks tried to work their way back into the game, but the Golden Griffins controlled the game on both sides of the court.
The Golden Griffins took a 21-12 lead at the end of the 1st quarter, and they continued their momentum into the 2nd quarter. Junior guard Athina Lexa made a 3-pointer to start off the scoring in the quarter, and Graduate Student guard Bri Rozzi also made a 3-pointer to extend the Golden Griffins’ lead to 27-12 early in the quarter.
The Peacocks struggled in the 2nd quarter, shooting 2-11 from the field, but did make 5 of 6 free throws to score a total of 10 points during the quarter. The Golden Griffins kept piling it on behind Eleko and Rozzi, who combined for a total of 38 points by the end of the game. The Golden Griffins took a 43-22 lead into halftime and felt comfortable with the 21-point lead.
The Golden Griffins were a little too comfortable as the Peacocks began to chip away at the Golden Griffins’ lead, outscoring the Golden Griffins 16-6 in the 3rd quarter to shorten their lead down to 48-38. Golden Griffins Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh knew they had to get back on track after a slow start to the 2nd half.
“I think we came out [in] the 2nd half a little slow, and we played to Saint Peter’s style; turned the ball over too many times which didn’t allow us to get any offensive flow,” said Coach Nusseibeh after the game.
The Golden Griffins turned the ball over a total of 18 times during the game, 10 of which happened during the 3rd quarter. The Golden Griffins were able to right the ship down the stretch with a couple of clutch free throws from Graduate Student guard Grace Heeps, Senior guard Mackenzie Amalia, and Eleko. The Peacocks were held to 1 made field goal during the final 4 minutes of the game, allowing the Golden Griffins to complete the 59-44 victory.
This was a big win for the Golden Griffins as they improved to 9-5 overall and 4-1 in the MAAC. Eleko finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal to solidify another solid night for the star Sophomore forward. She was really happy about the win and knows that her offensive performance comes from confidence.
“A win is a win,” said Eleko after the game. “I think just confidence and knowing that my guards are going to find me; that they trust me.”
The Golden Griffins will return to action in Lawrenceville, New Jersey tomorrow at 2 PM against the Rider Broncs.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 59 points, 33 rebounds, 18 turnovers, 7 steals, 46.7% FG, 38.1% 3PT, and 75.0% FT.
Peacocks: 44 points, 22 rebounds, 18 turnovers, 4 blocks, 7 steals, 34.1% FG, 30.0% 3PT, and 53.3% FT.
January 11th, 2024
Fessenden’s 32-Save Performance Powers Ice Hockey to 4-1 Win over Lakers
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins ice hockey team took the ice to finish off a 7-game homestand at the LECOM Harborcenter this evening. After splitting with non conference opponents last weekend, the Golden Griffins were looking to bounce back and string some wins together, heading back into conference play to face the Mercyhurst Lakers. The Golden Griffins were looking to put pucks in the back of the net which is what happened as they took down the Lakers 4-1 behind an excellent goaltender performance from Senior goalie David Fessenden.
The Lakers got going early on by putting the first 3 shots on goal in the game, but the Golden Griffins capitalized on their opportunity in the Lakers zone and just over 6 minutes into the contest, Freshman defenseman Jack Budd put the puck into the back of the net. It was Budd’s 2nd goal of the season as the Golden Griffins took a 1-0 lead, assisted by Sophomore forwards Oliver Tarr, his 5th, and Stefano Bottini, his 3rd.
The Golden Griffins took the 1-0 lead into the 1st intermission. Less than a minute into the 2nd period, the Golden Griffins would keep the scoring party going as they added a pair of goals from Captain Senior forward Max Kouznetsov, who scored his 6th goal of the season off a nice feed pass from Senior forward Randy Hernandez, his 10th assist. Freshman forward Matteo Giampa also earned an assist, his 7th of the season. Senior defenseman Jackson Decker added his 4th goal of the season later in the period to extend the lead to 3-0 into the 2nd intermission. Decker’s goal was assisted by Kouznetsov, his 7th, and Giampa, his 8th.
The Golden Griffins started to make some mistakes in the 3rd by taking penalties, causing the Lakers to be very aggressive later in the game by pulling their goaltender with just over 6 minutes remaining in the game on a power play to make it a 6 on 4. The Golden Griffins put the icing on the cake as Graduate Student forward Erik Urbank buried the puck into the empty net to make it 4-0, his 3rd goal of the season which was assisted by Freshman forward Trey Funk, his 5th, and Senior defenseman Powell Connor, his 3rd. The Lakers would add a very late goal to spoil the shutout bid and finish off the scoring with a 4-1 final.
The Golden Griffins overall controlled the game from puck drop, but it does not all happen without getting support from the most important position in the sport of hockey: goaltending. Fessenden had a spectacular night by nearly pitching a shutout, having a 32-save performance in a game that the Golden Griffins really needed to get a big 3 points in the AHA. The Golden Griffins’ defense stepped up with 12 blocked shots in the game, making an impact in the victory. After the game, Fessenden commented about the team’s performance and how when the defense plays well, it helps give him confidence in his own abilities.
“Overall the team put together 60 minutes of good hockey, and these games mean a little more now, so I’m happy with the result,” said Fessenden. “Guys are stepping up on defense [by] making big blocks. I’m doing my job, so that’s all you can ask for and this rhythm can continue by keeping it simple and enjoying the process.”
With the win, the Golden Griffins improved their record to 7-12-3 overall (6-5-3 in the AHA) with 21 points. Next, they will have a off day tomorrow before hitting the I-90 on the road to Rochester, New York to face the currently nationally ranked #20 RIT Tigers in another big conference matchup. Puck drop is set for 7 PM at the Gene Polisseni Center.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins- 31 shots, +14 rating, 57% in faceoffs, 6 penalty minutes, and 12 blocked shots.
Fessendan recorded 32 saves with 1 goal allowed.
Lakers- 33 shots, -16 rating, 43% in faceoffs, 0 penalty minutes, and 5 blocked shots.
The Lakers Sophomore goalie recorded 24 saves with 3 goals allowed.
January 10th, 2024
Ice Hockey Falls Short in 4-3 Non Conference Loss to Golden Knights
Written by: Andrew Nowel
The Canisius Golden Griffins ice hockey team took on the Clarkson Golden Knights in their final non conference game of the season last Saturday. The Golden Knights never lost control of the game as the Golden Griffins fell to the Golden Knights 4-3 in a high-scoring 3rd period where 5 total goals were scored.
The Golden Griffins nearly got out of the 1st period without giving up a goal, but the Golden Knights found the back of the net with 1:30 left to play in the period to take a 1-0 lead into the 1st intermission. The 2nd period was similar, however, the Golden Griffins scored the only goal in the period. Sophomore forward Oliver Tarr scored his 2nd goal of the season, a powerplay goal, and it was assisted by Senior defenseman Jackson Decker, his 8th. At the 2nd intermission, the game was tied at 1.
The beginning of the 3rd period was a mess for the Golden Griffins as the Golden Knights scored 3 goals in the first 2:31 of the period to take a 4-1 lead. The Golden Griffins tried to fight back out of the hole they dug themselves into, but it was too little too late. With 8:59 left to play in the game, Freshman forward Matteo Giampa once again found the back of the net to make it 4-2 Golden Knights, scoring his 14th goal of the season. Giampa’s goal was assisted by Graduate Student defenseman Brenden Datema and Senior forward Kyle Haskins, both earning their 5th assist of the season.
The final goal of the night was scored by Tarr, bringing the Golden Knights’ lead down to 4-3, but the clock hit 0:00 and it wasn’t enough for the Golden Griffins to play extra time. Tarr scored his 3rd goal of the season, assisted by Datema, his 6th, and Decker, his 9th.
The Golden Griffins look to get back on track tomorrow night as they rematch the Mercyhurst Lakers at home at the LECOM HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo, New York. Puck drop is set for 6 PM. The Golden Griffins head into the matchup with an overall record of 6-12-3 and an AHA record of 5-5-3.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins- 28 shots, -4 rating, 53% in faceoffs, 8 penalty minutes, and 14 blocked shots.
Senior goalie David Fessenden recorded 20 saves with 4 goals allowed.
Saints- 24 shots, +5 rating, 47% in faceoffs, 10 penalty minutes, and 9 blocked shots.
The Golden Knights Junior goalie had 25 saves with 3 goals allowed.
January 8th, 2024
Men’s Basketball Falls Short in OT Thriller, Broncs Hand Golden Griffins 4th Straight Loss
Written by: Andrew Nowel
The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team returned to the court yesterday afternoon as they faced off against the Rider Broncs in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The Golden Griffins were hoping to end the 3-game losing streak that they entered the contest on, but the Broncs weren’t an easy team to defeat, despite their 3-11 overall record before the game. It would take extra time for a winner to emerge, but, in the end, the Broncs won 79-76, handing the Golden Griffins their 4th straight loss.
The Broncs got off to a hot start as they jumped off to a 12-4 lead, forcing the Golden Griffins and Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon to call his 1st timeout just over 5 minutes into the game. The Golden Griffins came out of the timeout by going on a 9-0 run which forced the Broncs to call their 1st timeout with 13:22 left to play in the 1st half.
The Golden Griffins led 13-12 at this point, but the Broncs didn’t let the Golden Griffins pull away nor did the Golden Griffins allow the Broncs to take any kind of a sizable lead. Junior guard Tre Dinkins was called for a technical foul with 7:15 to play in the half, giving the Broncs 2 free points.
Both teams were strong inside the paint as both Junior forward Frank Mitchell for the Golden Griffins and the Broncs’ forwards battled for rebounds. The Golden Griffins were outrebounded by the end of the game, but not by much, 41-39.
The Broncs took a 31-25 lead at the half and also came out of the half draining shot after shot. The first 5 minutes of the 2nd half were similar to the 1st where the Broncs outscored the Golden Griffins 8-3, taking a 40-30 lead and maintaining that lead for most of the half. The Broncs continued to make their shots while the Golden Griffins missed a lot of shots while also not capitalizing on Broncs’ turnovers.
The Golden Griffins didn’t give up, and the fight showed as they began to work their way back to a tie of 56 with just under 4 minutes left to play in the game. The Golden Griffins had multiple chances to win the game without it going to overtime, but they struggled to hit free throws. Mitchell would finish the game 2-12 on free throws, and this allowed the Broncs to keep the game within reach.
With 10 seconds left on the clock, the Golden Griffins had the ball, but missed what would’ve been the game-winning shot, sending the game into overtime. The Broncs took control of the game from there, winning 79-76 and handing the Golden Griffins their 4th straight loss. After the game, Coach Witherspoon spoke about how tough of a loss this was to take, especially with the struggles at the free throw line.
“This is an extremely frustrating loss for us here today,” said Coach Witherspoon. “We had our chances, more than our fair share, honestly, but going 9-for-25 from the free-throw line is just not good enough, obviously. We wanted a quicker pace, but we ended up with 2 guys having to play the entire 2nd half and overtime. We just need to keep fighting as a group. That's pretty much all we can do. We need to stick together and keep working to move on from this and move this thing forward."
The Golden Griffins dropped to 6-8 overall on the season while also dropping to 1-3 in the MAAC. They will return to the court back home on Friday to host the Siena Saints with tipoff being at 7 PM, and the game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 76 points, 39 rebounds, 10 turnovers, 2 blocks, 6 steals, 42.4% FG, 32.4% 3PT, and 36.0% FT.
Broncs: 79 points, 41 rebounds, 11 turnovers, 2 blocks, 4 steals, 43.1% FG, 38.1% 3PT, and 75.0% FT.
January 7th, 2024
Women’s Basketball Suffers 1st Conference Loss in 64-51 Defeat to Stags
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins women’s basketball team were right back at it to finish off their 3-game homestand at the Koessler Athletic Center as they were in for a test on Saturday afternoon, going up against the best team in the MAAC as they faced the Fairfield Stags. The Golden Griffins were looking to build off of a win last time out after defeating the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers. However, the Stags were too much for the Golden Griffins, and behind their talented Freshman core, the Stags earned their 10th consecutive win, defeating the Golden Griffins 64-51.
This game was an entertaining back-and-forth affair between the top 2 teams of the conference as they traded baskets early in the 1st quarter, but the Stags got going as they held the Golden Griffins scoreless, using an 8-0 run to take a 31-19 lead in the 2nd quarter. The Golden Griffins would score the next 4 points of the half, but the Stags took a 31-23 lead into halftime.
The Golden Griffins used a 14-5 run in the first 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter as they were hitting shots and catching fire, offensively, to take a 2-point lead. However, the Stags would answer as they went on a run to finish off the quarter, scoring the final 10 points. This allowed the Stags to gain all the momentum back that the Golden Griffins had acquired, and the Golden Griffins trailed by 12 at the end of the 3rd.
During the run for the Stags, the Golden Griffins were unable to make their shots, and it was a problem for them in general throughout the game. The Golden Griffins shot 7-18 from the field in the 3rd quarter which they needed to fix before the game got out of control. The Golden Griffins would get back on track in the 4th as Senior guard Bri Rozzi, who scored 13 points in total, scored 6 of those 13 to start the 4th quarter and cut the Stags lead down to 52-46. Sadly, it was not enough as the Stags would go on a 12-5 run, sealing the game for the Stags with a 64-51 victory.
The key for this game was that the Stags found a way to stop the effectiveness of Sophomore forward Sisi Eleko as she was held to only 10 points in the game. The Golden Griffins were not shooting well from the free throw line as they only shot 45% while the Stags shot 80%. Also, the Stags turned 19 Golden Griffin turnovers into 25 points. The Golden Griffins will have to clean up the mishaps next game if they want to have success against their next opponent. After the loss, Golden Griffins Head Coach Sahar Neisseibeh spoke postgame on the growth that the team has to take away and learn from the loss against the best team of the conference.
“We have to go back objectively and see how we lost this game,” said Coach Nusseibeh. “I would like to see a little more fight of how we finish. I think we will grow prior to the next time we face them and hope the outcome will be better.”
The next time the Golden Griffins will face the Stags will be on January 27th where they will head to Fairfield, CT. With the loss, the Golden Griffins fell to 8-5 overall and 3-1 in the MAAC. Next, they are back to the road as they will hit the state of New Jersey with a stop in Jersey City to face the St. Peter’s Peacocks on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 PM.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 51 points, 35 rebounds, 19 turnovers, 4 steals, 38.5% FG, 16.7% 3PT, and 45% FT.
Leading Scorer: Bri Rozzi 13 Points, 7 Rebounds, and 1 Steal.
Stags: 64 points, 39 rebounds, 16 turnovers, 3 blocks, 4 steals, 36.1% FG, 21.1% 3PT, and 80% FT.
Leading Scorer: Freshman road runner Meghan Anderson 19 Points and 7 Rebounds.
January 6th, 2024
Men’s Basketball Falls to Mountaineers 74-69 in Opening Game of 2024
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team returned to the court on Friday night, coming in only having played their 2nd game in 27 days, and that previous game was a tough loss against the High Point Panthers on December 22nd. They returned to conference play as they faced the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Maryland where the Mountaineers would pull off the victory by a final score of 74-69.
The 1st quarter was back-and-forth as the Golden Griffins took a lead of 17-14, but then they were starting to not be able to make their shots as the Mountaineers took control of the 1st half, going on a 17-3 run in just over a 5-minute span that gave Mountaineers an 11-point lead. The Golden Griffins answered with a 12-4 run themselves in the final 4 minutes of the half to be down 37-34 at the half.
Throughout the game, the Golden Griffins were not as sharp stopping the Mountaineers from attempting and making 3-pointers while also failing to hit their own 3-pointers. They only made 26% of them overall in the game and this ended up costing them when it came down to the final minutes of the game. It allowed the Mountaineers to go on a run to gain the momentum back and take a 68-59 lead.
The Golden Griffins would answer back as they cut the Mountaineers’ lead down to 1 by going on an 11-2 run. Time was running out, however, as the Golden Griffins were looking to take the lead in the game, but the shot never fell for the Golden Griffins as the Mountaineers sealed the win with a basket to make it 72-69. The Mountaineers drilled in 2 free throws to close out the game at 74-69.
The Golden Griffins had 4 players go into double digit scoring once again in this game as Junior guard Tre Dinkins led the team with 18 points even though the Golden Griffins shot 38% from the field while the Mountaineers took advantage of this Golden Griffins, shooting 50%. Golden Griffins Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon spoke postgame about the loss.
“We didn't get their shots blocked off consistently,” said Coach Witherspoon. “They had 10 offensive rebounds and shot over 50% from the field, [so] there shouldn't be that many offensive rebounds if they are shooting that high. Defensively, we didn't get our coverages executed correctly and had a poor shooting night out there.”
With the loss the Golden Griffins fall to 6-7 overall and 1-2 in the MAAC. Next, the Golden Griffins will look to snap a 3-game losing streak as they continue their travels in conference play in Lawrenceville, New Jersey to face the Rider Broncs on Sunday afternoon with tipoff set for 2 PM.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 69 points, 40 rebounds, 12 turnovers, 2 blocks, 8 steals, 38.2% FG, 26.1% 3PT, and 68.8% FT.
Leading Scorer: Dinkins 18 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists and 1 Steal.
Mountaineers: 74 points, 33 rebounds, 16 turnovers, 1 block, 5 steals, 50.8% FG, 32% 3PT, and 75% FT.
Leading Scorer Tinsley 18 Points, 7 Rebounds, and 1 Assist.
January 5th, 2024
Ice Hockey Uses 4-Goal 3rd to Defeat Saints 5-1
Written by: Andrew Nowel
On a cold night in early January of the new year, the Canisius Golden Griffins hosted the St. Lawrence Saints in their 1st game of 2024. After falling in both games, previously, to the RPI Engineers, the Golden Griffins were looking for a victory to bounce back and earn 3 points to start off the new year on the right skate. They would be successful with a 5-1 victory over the Saints behind a 4-goal 3rd period led by 5 different goal scorers.
The 1st period was scoreless with both the Golden Griffins and Saints playing well defensively. 6 minutes into the 2nd period, the Saints struck 1st, scoring to take a 1-0 lead in the game. The Golden Griffins tied the game with 1:33 left in the period behind Senior defenseman Cody Schiavon’s 3rd goal of the season, assisted by Sophomore forwards Killian Kiecker-Olson, his 3rd, and Stefano Bottini, his 1st. After 2 periods, the game was tied as it headed into the 3rd period.
The 3rd period was all Golden Griffins as they took the lead 6 minutes into the period with Senior forward Max Kouznetsov’s 5th goal of the season, assisted by Graduate Student forward Erik Urbank, his 7th, and Bottini, his 2nd. The Golden Griffins would hold the 2-1 lead until 2:53 left in the 3rd when Freshman forward Matteo Giampa scored his 13th goal of the season to extend their lead to 3-1, and the goal was unassisted.
48 seconds later, the Golden Griffins scored another goal to take a 4-1 lead. Sophomore defenseman Robert Kincaid scored his 1st goal of the season, an empty-net goal to seal the game for the Golden Griffins. They scored an extra goal, shorthanded and empty-net, to finish the game with a 5-1 victory. Junior forward Matt Vermaeten scored his 6th goal of the season, assisted by Urbank, his 8th, and Senior defenseman Jack Lyons, his 1st.
This was a great win for the Golden Griffins as they needed the bounce back win to build on. They will return to the ice tomorrow to host the Clarkson Golden Knights with puck drop being at 7 PM.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins- 42 shots, +22 rating, 59% in faceoffs, 23 penalty minutes, and 22 blocked shots.
Freshman goalie Ethan Robertson recorded 28 saves with 1 goal allowed.
Saints- 29 shots, -24 rating, 41% in faceoffs, 8 penalty minutes, and 4 blocked shots.
The Saints Graduate Student goalie had 37 saves with 3 goals allowed.
January 4th, 2024
Elekco’s 22-Point Performance Powers Women’s Basketball to Bounce Back 62-49 Victory
Written by: Ryan Patota
The Canisius Golden Griffins women’s basketball team were back to attack their 1st game of 2024 this morning as they took on Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, an opponent in the MAAC. The Golden Griffins were fresh off a non conference loss against the Akron Zips this past Saturday, so they were looking for a quick start in this one which the Golden Griffins found to secure a bounce back victory by a final score of 62-49.
Just like the previous game, the Golden Griffins did not get off to a fast start as they were playing from behind early, going down 15-3 in the 1st quarter. The Mountaineers made 50% of their shots in the quarter, but, coming out of a timeout by Head Coach Sahar Nuessibeh, the Golden Griffins got going as they did what they've done best all season which is go on runs. The Golden Griffins finished off the quarter by going on a 6-2 run to cut the Mountaineers lead down to 17-9.
This run continued into the 2nd quarter as the Golden Griffins took off with an 11-2 run, shooting 62.5% from the field in the quarter. They outscored the Mountaineers 25-9, heading into halftime with an 8-point lead at 34-26. The Mountaineers would chip away to cut the lead down to 5 in the beginning of the 2nd half. The Golden Griffins would start to get back on track with another run as they took advantage of missed shots by the Mountaineers, going on a 8-0 run to extend their lead up to 13.
The Golden Griffins continued to lead the Mountaineers into the 4th quarter where the Mountaineers went on a run themselves of 12-4 to cut the Golden Griffins lead back to 5. This is where the Golden Griffins answered the Mountaineers' run as the Golden Griffins would go on a game sealing 12-4 run to finish off the game for the Golden Griffins which helped them to stay undefeated in conference play. The Golden Griffins won the game by a final score of 62-49.
It was clear that the Golden Griffins, especially after a slow start, fed off the energy in the building to grind out a nice win against a conference opponent. This victory came as a team victory, but Sophomore forward Sisi Eleko made a huge impact during the game as she has for most of the games this season. She earned yet another double-double, her 8th of the season, leading the MAAC, acquiring 22 points and 11 rebounds. Eleko spoke postgame about her big day overall.
“I have confidence in myself. I know me and my team can go really far in this conference and do good things,” said Eleko.
With the win, the Golden Griffins earned their 8th win of the season, improving their record to 3-0 in the MAAC and 8-4 overall. Next, the Golden Griffins will return to the Koessler Athletic Center to finish off a 3-game homestand on Saturday as they will be in for a huge test facing the Fairfield Stags who are sitting atop the MAAC at 11-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Tip-off is set for 1 PM and the game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
Stats for the game
Golden Griffins: 62 points, 37 rebounds, 12 turnovers, 3 steals, 45.1% FG, 23% 3PT, and 72.2% FT.
Leading Scorer: Eleko 22 Points, 11 Rebounds, and 2 Assists.
Mountaineers: 49 points, 31 rebounds, 13 turnovers, 5 blocks, 11 steals, 37.9% FG, 5% 3PT (1/20), and 66.7% FT.
Leading Scorer: Junior guard Jada Lee 17 Points, 5 Rebounds, and 1 Assist.
January 2nd, 2023
Ice Hockey Swept in Weekend Series, Engineers Win 6-3 Friday, 2-1 Saturday
Written by: Andrew Nowel
The Canisius Golden Griffins ice hockey team took the ice after the Christmas break one more time before 2024 began to take on the RPI Engineers last Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the Golden Griffins couldn’t play defense as the Engineers took the 1st game of the series by a final score of 6-3. The Engineers won a close game on Saturday to defeat the Golden Griffins 2-1, sweeping them in the weekend series.
The Golden Griffins started off Friday’s game with a power-play goal only 3 minutes into the game. Sophomore forward Grant Porter scored his 3rd goal of the season with the assists being awarded to Sophomore forward Killian Kiecker-Olson, his 2nd, and Sophomore defenseman Robert Kincaid, his 1st. The Engineers tied the game with 7:58 left in the 1st period, but the Golden Griffins took a 2-1 lead only 43 seconds later on Freshman forward Trey Funk’s 1st goal of the season. The assists were awarded to Senior forwards Kyle Haskins, his 4th, and Randy Hernandez, his 8th.
The Engineers scored another goal to tie the game at 2 going into the 1st intermission, and they also scored early in the 2nd period to take a 3-2 lead. The Golden Griffins scored late in the 2nd period to tie the game at 3 behind Senior defenseman Jackson Decker’s 3rd goal of the season. The assists were awarded to Hernandez, his 9th, and Senior forward Max Kouznetsov, his 6th. The Engineers scored 3 times in the 3rd period, leading to a 6-3 victory in the 1st game of the series.
Saturday’s game was scoreless until early in the 2nd period when the Engineers took a 1-0 lead, but the Golden Griffins’ defense was better and the offense was able to tie the game 2 minutes later. Graduate Student forward Erik Urbank scored his 2nd goal of the season, assisted by Senior defensemen Cody Schiavon, his 4th, and Connor Powell, his 2nd. The Engineers would score again 5 minutes later, and it would be the last goal in the game as the Golden Griffins couldn’t find the back of the net, falling to the Engineers 2-1.
Both losses that the Golden Griffins took were disappointing since the Engineers came into the series with a 3-11-1 overall record while the Golden Griffins came in with a 5-9-3 record. The Golden Griffins will return to the ice this Friday back at the LECOM HarborCenter against the St. Lawrence Saints with puck drop being at 7 PM.
Stats for the RPI series
Golden Griffins- 65 shots, -20 rating, 50% faceoffs, 18 penalty minutes, and 20 blocks.
Senior goalie David Fessenden had 19 saves with 6 goals against in Friday’s game while Freshman goalie Ethan Robertson had 29 saves with 2 goals against in Saturday’s game.
Engineers- 56 shots, +20 rating, 50% faceoffs, 15 penalty minutes, and 19 blocks.
The Engineers Junior goalie had 61 saves with 4 goals against total through both games.