STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
RIVERDALE — The Canisius women’s lacrosse team opens conference play this Saturday, March 25, taking on Manhattan in a 4 p.m. contest.
The Griffs were victorious in their last outing, getting an 18-10 win on the road over Michigan two Sundays ago (March 12).
The Blue and Gold enter MAAC play as the defending conference champions, and have gone undefeated in regular season conference play in each of the last two seasons (16-0).
The Griffs completed non-conference play with a 5-4 record, highlighted by wins over Oregon, Delaware and Michigan. Junior Erica Evans leads the team’s offensive attack with 29 goals and 37 points. Evans ranks 12th nationally in goals and 17th in total points. The MAAC Preseason Player of the Year also leads the team in ground balls (25) and caused turnovers (16). Junior Lauren Smolensky leads the team in assists with 19, ranking 12th nationally in the category. Junior goalkeeper Rebecca VanLaeken holds a 5-4 overall record, and ranks third in the country in total saves at 104. She second in the NCAA in saves per game at 11.56.
Manhattan enters Saturday’s meeting with a 2-5 overall record, gaining wins over Saint Mary’s (16-3) and LIU Brooklyn (15-12). The team ranks ninth in the country in free position percentage, scoring on 19-of-36 attempts. The Jaspers are led offensively by Molly Fitzpatrick, who has totaled 15 goals and 21 points. Darby Nolan ranks second on the team with 12 goals and 18 points. Goalkeeper Nikki Prestiano is 2-5 with an 11.68 goals-against average and a .466 save percentage.
Canisius is 10-9 all-time against the Jaspers, winning their last nine matchups against Manhattan. The teams first squared off in 1998 with the Golden Griffins being defeated 16-2. The Griffs were victorious in their meeting last year, winning by a score of 19-3 from the Demske Sports Complex.
The Griffs return home for a Saturday morning meeting against Iona on April 1 at 11 p.m., before hosting Siena on April 5 at 4 p.m.