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After an 18-5 win over Iona this past Saturday, the Blue and Gold host MAAC opponent Siena in their third conference contest of the year. The Blue and Gold are 2-1 at home this season after the win over the Gaels last week. Canisius is 7-4 overall through two full months of action and is riding a four-game win streak. The team is 2-0 in conference play this season, and has won 18 consecutive regular season conference matchups.
The Griffs have the edge over the Saints with a 14-6 all-time record, winning 11 straight against their MAAC rival dating back to 2007. The Golden Griffins also hold a 9-2 all-time record at home against the Saints. The team’s have met twice in the MAAC Tournament in 2011 & 2013 with the Blue and Gold winning both contests. The Blue and Gold won last year’s matchup in overtime, 12-11. Sophomore Tessa Chad recorded the game-winning-goal in the overtime period, while junior Erica Evans led Canisius with eight points on five goals and three assists.
The Griffs offensive attack is headed by Evans, who leads the team with 40 goals on 52 points through the team’s first 11 games. Evans is among the best in the nation in scoring, ranking 10th in the NCAA in goals and 8th in goals per game (3.64). Evans has recorded at least four goals and seven points in four straight games. With junior transfer Jen Reininger posting three goals in the win over Iona, she extended her goal streak to 11 games. Chad has scored multiple goals in five straight contests. Smolenksy has posted at least one point in each of her last 10 games. Several Griffs lead the MAAC in statistical categories, with Evans leading the league in goals (40), points (52) and goals per game (3.64), sophomore Jourdan Roemer leads the conference in shot percentage (.600) and junior goalkeeper Rebecca VanLaeken leads the MAAC in save pct (.496), saves (116) and ground balls per game (3.36).
Siena will be playing in their second MAAC contest of the season, losing to Fairfield on March 25, 19-5. The Saints have one win this season, against Vermont (12-10). Michelle Schwartz leads the Saints in goals (15) and points (23). Siena goalkeeper Sammy Horton is 1-8 with a 15.69 GAA and a .400 save pct. She ranks third in the MAAC in saves per game at 10.44. The Saints have struggled controlling the ball this season, averaging the most turnovers per game in the conference at 15.33.
Eight different members of the Blue and Gold scored, as the Canisius women’s lacrosse team continued its strong conference play, gaining an 18-5 win over Iona Saturday morning from the Demske Sports Complex. Evans had a season-high seven goals in the victory, while adding an assist, seven ground balls, seven caused turnovers and four draw controls to her stat line. Her seven caused turnovers mark a career high, while her seven ground balls tie a career high. Senior Ashley Bull started the game on a high note for the Golden Griffins, winning the opening draw, and breaking former Griff Megan Oosting’s career draw controls record at 202. With the win, the Golden Griffins have now won 18 consecutive regular season conference games.
After her seven goals against Iona Saturday, Evans is now at 150 for her career, putting her four away from the school record of 154 held by former Griffs Oosting and Tori Quinn. The midfielder will be looking to become the first Griff to hold the record as a junior, with six regular season games left to play. Evans also nears the school’s free position goal record. With 38 for her career, she trails former Griff Maria Kotas’ program record of 41 by three. The Peterborough, Ontario native is nearing the career 200 point mark, tallying 190 career points.
The Golden Griffins have taken advantage of their scoring opportunities this season, scoring on over half of their shots, ranking second in the nation in shot percentage at .503. The team has also excelled on free position attempts, ranking eighth in the nation in free position percentage at .530. Roemer ranks 17th in the nation in shot percentage (.600). Canisius ranks in the top-25 nationally in several categories as a team, 23rd in points-per-game (19.55) and 24th in scoring offense (13.64). The Griffs rank first in the MAAC in shot percentage, free position percentage, scoring offense, points per game and assists per game.
