CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
The Griffs will play in their seventh consecutive MAAC Championship game Sunday, when they host Fairfield University at Noon from the Demske Sports Complex. Canisius (14-4), enters the game on an 11 game win streak, last losing on March 5 to the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels. The Golden Griffins beat the Stags (12-5) in their only meeting of the year on April 22, by a score of 15-10. The teams have faced one another three times in the MAAC Championship game, with the Griffs gaining wins over Fairfield in 2011 and 2012. The Golden Griffins have won five of the last six MAAC Championships with their only loss coming to Fairfield in 2015.
CANISIUS – FAIRFIELD SERIES HISTORY
• The Griffs are 11-14 all-time against the Stags, defeating Fairfield 15-10 in their last meeting on April 22.
• The teams squared off in last year’s MAAC Championship semifinal game, where the Golden Griffins gained a 10-7 victory.
• The teams have faced one another in three MAAC Championship games, two of which the Griffs were victorious in, 2011 (13-8) & 2012 (15-11).
• The Blue and Gold lost to the Stags in the 2015 MAAC Championship game by a score of 9-7.
BLUE AND GOLD NOTES
• The Golden Griffins have excelled at home this year, holding a 6-1 record at the Demske.
• Junior Erica Evans has headed the Griffs offensive attack once again this season, leading the team with 70 goals and 97 points.
• Evans has stacked up against national competition, totaling the second most goals, as well as the second best goals-per-game average (3.89).
• The Peterborough, Ontario native is only one goal behind USC’s Michaela Michael for the most tallies in the NCAA.
• The midfielder has been a Swiss army knife this season, leading the team in ground balls (66) and caused turnovers (43), while ranking second in draw controls (56).
• Junior transfer Jen Reininger has been a strong addition to the club, scoring a goal in each of her 18 games, and leads the nation in shot percentage (.661).
• Sophomore Tessa Chad ranks second on the team with 50 goals and has posted 11-straight multi-goal games. She also has three-or-more goals in nine of her last 11 games.
• Sophomore Jourdan Roemer has become a top feeder for the Griffs, ranking second on the team with 27 assists, while having the fifth most assists in the MAAC.
• Junior goalkeeper Rebecca VanLaeken has a MAAC leading 7.19 GAA in conference play and has the most wins of any goalie in the league, with 14.
ABOUT THE STAGS
• The Stags have fared well on the road this season, holding a 5-3 away record, while going 4-0 in conference road games.
• The Stags have gone 8-1 in conference play this season, with their only loss coming against Canisius.
• Senior Riley Hellstein, the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, leads the Stags with 55 goals and 72 points, ranking second in the MAAC in each category.
• Senior goalkeeper Caleigh O’Connor is 12-5 this season, with a league best 8.80 GAA.
• The Stags defeated Marist in the MAAC semifinal round Friday afternoon by a score of 15-8, with Hellstein recording a game-high six points (4g, 2a).
EVANS FLIES HIGH
• Evans has continued her strong play during her junior year, ranking second in the nation with her 70 goals, while having the fourth most points at 97.
• The Peterborough, Ontario native has the fourth most ground balls in the nation (66) and is tied for the seventh most caused turnovers in the NCAA (43). Evans also has the second highest goals-per-game (3.89) and fourth best points-per-game (5.39) in the NCAA.
• The midfielder leads the MAAC in goals, points, ground balls, game-winning goals (4) and caused turnovers, while having the fifth most draw controls and assists in the conference.
• Evans has set school records for both goals and points by a junior, while also breaking her school and MAAC single-season points record set last year (91).
• She now has 97 total points this year, three away from becoming the first ever MAAC player to reach the 100 point barrier for a season.
• Evans is also two points away from tying her school and MAAC single-season record for goals (72) that she set last season.
• The junior was selected as the MAAC Midfielder of the Year for the third straight season at Thursday evenings banquet. She was also named to the All-MAAC first team for the third straight season at the banquet.
EVANS, TEETER HIGHLIGHT LACROSSE BANQUET
• Nine Canisius women’s lacrosse players earned All-MAAC honors, highlighted by junior Erica Evans, who was named the 2017 MAAC Midfielder of the Year, the conference announced Thursday night at its annual Women’s Lacrosse Championship banquet.
• In addition to the awards won by the student-athletes, Canisius head coach Scott Teeter was named the 2017 BNS Sports MAAC Coach of the Year. Teeter was voted the league’s coach of the year for the third-straight season and is the fourth time Teeter has been named the MAAC’s Coach of the Year.
• Evans, along with sophomores Tessa Chad and Brenna Shanahan were named to the All-MAAC First Team.
• Juniors Ashley Bull, Jen Reininger, Lauren Smolensky and Rebecca VanLaeken, along with sophomore Jourdan Roemer were named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
• Freshman Rachel Ryan was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.
