CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — After a banner athletic year in 2017-18, the Canisius athletic department has claimed its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Pepsi Men’s Commissioner’s Cup, league officials announced Thursday.
In the conference’s continuing efforts to recognize the achievements of its student-athletes, the Commissioner’s Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of overall excellence in athletics in the 25 championship athletic events conducted within the MAAC.
“We are extremely proud of the collective achievement from our programs to win the 2017-18 MAAC Pepsi Men’s Commissioner’s Cup,” Canisius Director of Athletics Bill Maher said. “This a tremendous accomplishment, a first for Canisius in our 28-year history in the MAAC, recognizing the sustained excellence from each of our men’s teams during this past year. To have their effort rewarded with the Commissioner’s Cup is certainly something special.”
“This is truly a team award and is only possible thanks to the support we receive from the Canisius administration and the many alumni, family and friends who are the ‘Team behind the Team’ in their support of the Blue and Gold Fund. We all share in this collective achievement.”
Three Canisius men’s programs won MAAC championships in 2017-18, highlighted by men’s lacrosse and baseball earning the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The men’s lacrosse team’s thrilling 10-9 win over Detroit Mercy in the MAAC final stands as that program’s third conference crown, and first since 2012. The baseball team, which earned its 12th straight MAAC Championship appearance, won the league’s baseball title May 26. The Griffs’ 11-0 win over Monmouth in Staten Island, N.Y., marks the Blue and Gold’s third baseball championship in the last six seasons.
The men’s basketball team, which posted an overall record of 21-12 and a program-record 15 conference wins during the regular season, shared the MAAC regular-season trophy with Rider. This past year marked the second time the Griffs claimed a MAAC regular-season championship, with the last occasion coming in 1993-94.
In the final men’s cup standings, Canisius claimed the top spot with 71.25 points, followed by runner-up Monmouth (70.00). In third was Rider (61.75) followed by Iona (60.50), Quinnipiac (56.00), Manhattan (51.75), Fairfield (46.50), Marist (44.50), Siena (39.50), Niagara (26.25) and Saint Peter’s (22.25).
Per the MAAC by-laws, each conference member institution is scored in all championships that it fields a varsity team. However, only the scores from the men’s and women’s basketball participation, plus the other top six men’s and other top six women’s championships are used to determine an institution’s total points.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) just completed its 37th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.