By: Emily Blount, Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant
ST. BONAVENTURE (1-1-4) vs. CANISIUS (1-1-3)
Wednesday, Sept. 6 – 6:00 p.m.
Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
The St. Bonaventure women's soccer team finishes non-conference play by traveling to play at rival Canisius on Wednesday night. It will serve as the final tune-up for Atlantic 10 action which opens Thursday, Sept. 14 at home vs. Dayton.
A HANDFUL OF FIRSTS
Thursday's 2-1 triumph over Niagara marked the Bonnies' first victory of the 2023 season as well as new head coach
Donny George's first win at the helm of the Brown and White. Junior defender
Sydney Hayward put away the game-winner for her first collegiate goal.
HELLO HAYWARD
Hayward has been a force on the backline for the Bonnies through the first six games. The Hilton, N.Y. native has played every minute of every game for the Bonnies so far this season. In addition to notching the game-winner in Thursday's game, Hayward scored a 20
th minute goal against RMU to put the Bonnies up 2-0.
STREAK SNAPPERS
On Sunday, St. Bonaventure ended RMU's five game win streak as they fought to a 2-2 draw. Bonaventure came out hot, scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes of the game. Sophomore
Olivia Allen netted the first for the Brown and White off a PK and Hayward put away the second off a free kick from
Hannah Walker. RMU had posted wins over VMI, Hampton, Akron, St. Francis (PA), and Indiana State.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB
Chiara Gottinger joined four other Bonnies in the record books as she recorded her 300
th save on Thursday night. She joins Karen Cunningham, '01, Brooke Lang, '92, Lauren Malcolm, '19, and Margaret Reif, '97. The junior from Pirching am Traubenberg, Austria made four saves against Niagara on Thursday and three more on Sunday against RMU.
CANISIUS NOTES
- Canisius has started the year with a 1-1-3 record with their only win coming against Youngstown State.
- The Golden Griffins have scored just one goal in their first five contests. Jessica Whitaker scored a late goal giving the Griffs their first victory at Youngstown State.
- The Griffs keeper Jordan Spencer earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Spencer hasn't given up a goal in 360 minutes of play while making 23 saves.
- Canisius haven't conceeded a goal in their past four games. They have only given up four goals this season all against Colgate in their season opener.
- Midfielder Emma Oliphant was named to the preseason All-MAAC team after recording two goals in three assists in last year's 5-5-10 campaign for the Griffs.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bonnies are 4-5-4 all-time against Canisius with the first meeting coming in 2009. A year ago, the two teams played to a 1-1 tie at Marra Athletics Complex.
Christine Napoli tallied the lone goal for the Bonnies. In 2021, the final result was a 0-0 draw after two overtime periods. Gottinger made eight saves during the game. The last time the Brown and White were victorious over the Little Three rival came in 2014. The Bonnies won three years in a row from 2012-2014 with their other victory coming back in 2010.
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