Battle of the Bridge (Canisius–Niagara)

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]

Battle of the Bridge

Canisius Golden Griffins Niagara Purple Eagles
Sport	Baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, volleyball
First meeting	2006
Trophy	Canal Cup
Statistics
All-time series	Canisius leads, 12–3
Longest win streak	Canisius, 10 (2010–2019)
Current win streak	Niagara, 2 (2020–present)

Canisius College

Niagara University

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Locations in New York

Overall results

^[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	7	21	Canisius 12–4
Total	15* Seasons	305.5	182.5	Canisius 12–4

References

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 Jack Wilkinson (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. "Battle of the Bridge". GoGriffs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
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". Retrieved 2021-12-30.
10. "Battle of the Bridge - Niagara University Athletics". Retrieved 2021-12-30.