Battle of the Bridge (Canisius–Niagara)

Battle of the Bridge
SportMulti-sport
First meeting2006
TrophyCanal Cup
Statistics
All-time seriesCanisius leads, 13–4
Longest win streakCanisius, 10 (2010–2019)
Current win streakCanisius, 1 (2022–present)
Battle of the Bridge (Canisius–Niagara) is located in New York
Canisius University
Canisius University
Niagara University
Niagara University

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

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[9][10]

Season Winner Overall score Series
Canisius Niagara
2006–07 Niagara 10 24 Niagara 1–0
2007–08 Canisius 21 13 Tied 1–1
2008–09 Canisius 23 11 Canisius 2–1
2009–10 Niagara 15 17 Tied 2–2
2010–11 Canisius 20 13 Canisius 3–2
2011–12 Canisius 18.5 14.5 Canisius 4–2
2012–13 Canisius 21 12 Canisius 5–2
2013–14 Canisius 23.5 9.5 Canisius 6–2
2014–15 Canisius 21 7 Canisius 7–2
2015–16 Canisius 20.5 7.5 Canisius 8–2
2016–17 Canisius 30 8 Canisius 9–2
2017–18 Canisius 27 9 Canisius 10–2
2018–19 Canisius 19 11 Canisius 11–2
2019–20 Canisius 16 10 Canisius 12–2
2020–21 Niagara 10 16 Canisius 12–3
2021–22 Niagara 13 23 Canisius 12–4
2022–23 Canisius 19 17 Canisius 13–4
Total 16* seasons 327.5 222.5 Canisius 13–4

References

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  1. ^ "Niagara beats Canisius". WIVB-TV. January 27, 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  2. ^ "A higher bridge for Canisius, Niagara". uscho.com. November 4, 2010. Retrieved 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. ISBN 978-0345513922.
  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. ISBN 978-0-8108-9120-3.
  5. ^ "COLLEGE ROUNDUP (JAN 31): NU, Canisius to battle for Canal Cup". Niagara Gazette. January 31, 2007. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  6. ^ a b "Battle of the Bridge". GoGriffs.com. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  7. ^ Harrington, Mike (February 2, 2007). "Canisius, Niagara add to rivalry". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  8. ^ "Battle of the Bridge". PurpleEagles.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  9. ^ "Battle of the Bridge - Canisius College Athletics". gogriffs.com. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  10. ^ "Battle of the Bridge - Niagara University Athletics". purpleeagles.com. Retrieved 2024-02-06.