Battle of the Bridge (Canisius–Niagara) explained

Wide:yes
Battle of the Bridge
Team1:Canisius Golden Griffins
Team1logo:Canisius Athletics wordmark.png
Team2:Niagara Purple Eagles
Team2logo:Initials niagara univ.svg
Sport:Multi-sport
Firstmeeting:2006
Series:Canisius leads, 13–4
Longeststreak:Canisius, 10 (2010–2019)
Currentstreak:Canisius, 1 (2022–present)
Trophy:Canal Cup

The Battle of the Bridge is the name of the all-sports rivalry between the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Niagara Purple Eagles.[1] [2] [3] [4] Both schools are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The two teams compete every school year in 14 sports; men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's ice hockey, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, and women's volleyball. The overall winner of the annual series receives the Canal Cup trophy.[5] The two long-time Western New York rivals created the trophy in 2007 to enhance the historic rivalry between the two schools.[6] The name of the series is a reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling along I-190 to the other's campus.[7] [8] The name of the trophy is a reference to the Erie Canal, which separates Erie County, where Canisius is located, and Niagara County, where Niagara is located.[6]

Overall results

[9] [10]

SeasonWinnerOverall scoreSeries
CanisiusNiagara
2006–07 Niagara1024Niagara 1–0
2007–08 Canisius2113Tied 1–1
2008–09 Canisius2311Canisius 2–1
2009–10 Niagara1517Tied 2–2
2010–11 Canisius2013Canisius 3–2
2011–12 Canisius18.514.5Canisius 4–2
2012–13 Canisius2112Canisius 5–2
2013–14 Canisius23.59.5Canisius 6–2
2014–15 Canisius217Canisius 7–2
2015–16 Canisius20.57.5Canisius 8–2
2016–17 Canisius308Canisius 9–2
2017–18 Canisius279Canisius 10–2
2018–19 Canisius1911Canisius 11–2
2019–20 Canisius1610Canisius 12–2
2020–21 Niagara1016Canisius 12–3
2021–22 Niagara1323Canisius 12–4
2022–23 Canisius1917Canisius 13–4
Total 16* seasons 327.5 222.5Canisius 13–4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: January 27, 2013. Niagara beats Canisius. WIVB-TV. 2014-01-03.
  2. Web site: November 4, 2010. A higher bridge for Canisius, Niagara. uscho.com. 2014-01-03.
  3. ESPN and Bill Bradley (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. Bristol, Connecticut: ESPN. p. 114. .
  4. Beck, Stan, and Wilkinson, Jack (2013). College Sports Traditions: Picking Up Butch, Silent Night, and Hundreds of Others. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 227. .
  5. Web site: January 31, 2007. COLLEGE ROUNDUP (JAN 31): NU, Canisius to battle for Canal Cup. Niagara Gazette. 2014-01-03.
  6. Web site: 2008-06-23 . Battle of the Bridge . 2024-07-08 . GoGriffs.com.
  7. News: Harrington. Mike . Canisius, Niagara add to rivalry. 2014-01-03. The Buffalo News. February 2, 2007.
  8. Web site: Battle of the Bridge. PurpleEagles.com. 2014-01-03.
  9. Web site: Battle of the Bridge - Canisius College Athletics . 2021-12-30 . gogriffs.com.
  10. Web site: Battle of the Bridge - Niagara University Athletics . 2024-02-06 . purpleeagles.com.