Strong special teams and a school-record third consecutive shutout helped the Canisius

hockey team extend its unbeaten streak to six games, recording a 4-0 win over host American

International on Saturday in West Springfield, Mass.

The Griffs (7-6-1, 6-3-1 Atlantic Hockey) are now 5-0-1 in their last six games as they

extended their shutout streak to 187 minutes and 45 seconds.

The six-game unbeaten streak is the longest for Canisius since 2003-04.

Senior Andrew Loewen recorded 32 saves in net to extend the shutout streak, which goes back

to the third period of a 4-4 tie with Connecticut on Nov. 14. It was his sixth career shutout,

tying him with Bryan Worosz for the most in Canisius Division I history.

Cory Conacher had a pair of goals in the victory while senior Jason Weeks and sophomore

Scott Moser each added a tally. Senior Josh Heidinger had an assist to break the Canisius

Division I record for career assists. He has 72, one more than David Deeves recorded from 1998

to 2002.

"The team is rolling on all cylinders right now," said senior Dave Cianfrini. "The

forwards, the defenders and the goalies are all playing really well. We are sticking to our

systems and it is showing in our results."

Canisius held a 33-32 advantage in shots and converted three of four power-play chances,

while killing all seven Yellow Jackets opportunities.

The Griffs will return to the ice on at 7:05 p.m. on Friday against Army at Buffalo State.

NU women fall

Top-ranked Mercyhurst (10-1-1, 3-0-1 CHA) escaped Dwyer Arena in Lewiston with a 2-0 victory

over Niagara (5-5-4, 2-2-2 CHA) on Saturday after the teams had played to a 2-2 tie on Friday

night.

The game was scoreless until Bailey Bram of the Lakers scored off a rebound at 2:56. Kelly

Steadman added an empty-net goal with 11 seconds left.

The first two periods were plagued with 27 penalties (14-Mercyhurst, 13-Niagara), but only

one penalty was called in the third.

Niagara goalie Jenni Bauer made 21 saves while Hillary Pattenden of Mercyhurst had 17.

The Purple Eagles kept the CHA top three scorers — Vicki Bendus, Jess Jones and Jesse

Scanzano — without a point for the first time this season.

Alfred wins Abgott

Long-range shooting lifted the Alfred women's basketball team (4-0) over host Buffalo State

(1-2), 62-46, in the championship game of the Betty Abgott Invitational at the Sports Arena.

The Saxons hit 11 of 23 from beyond the arc compared to 2 of 22 for the Bengals.

Sarah Thompson was the high scorer for Buffalo State with 12 points, and Divine Sebuharara

had eight points and 12 rebounds. Tournament MVP Lyndsay Murphy and Christina Jordan paced

Alfred with 17 points each.

Nazareth wins

Nazareth (2-1) took over in the second half en route to a 72-61 victory over host Buffalo

State (1-1) in the title game of the men's basketball Coles Classic at the Sports Arena.

Buffalo State led by as many as nine points in the early going and clung to a 34-33 lead at

the intermission. The lead changed hands several times early in the second half, before the

Golden Flyers moved in front for good with 6:33 remaining and used an 11-3 run to pull away.

Nazareth prevailed despite shooting just 38 percent from the field, including 4 of 22 from

three-point range. Buffalo State shot 40 percent and was 0 for 8 from beyond the arc.

Tournament MVP Corey McAdam led five Nazareth starters in double figures with 18 points.

Phil Scaffidi (St. Joe's) had 11 points and nine boards for the winners.

Glenroy Carr (Sweet Home) led the Bengals with 13 points, while Jake Simmons had 12 points.

Tyshun Stephens (Nazareth), Norman Simmons and Jake Simmons (Buffalo State), Kevin Knab

(Marietta) and Sam Moore (Pitt-Bradford) made the all-tournament team.

Clements honored

The Niagara volleyball team picked up plenty of accolades at the All-Metro Atlantic

Athletic Conference postseason banquet Saturday at Canisius College.

The 2009 Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year award went to Niagara's third-year head

coach Susan Clements.

Sophomore Hannah Hedrick was Defensive Player of the Year and sophomore Michelle James

earned Setter of the Year. Both were first team All-MAAC.

Freshman Kari Honomichl made the second team.

The Purple Eagles also put seven players on the MAAC All-Academic Team. They are: Lauren

Costello, Shannon Ryan, Kathy Bibler, Lisa Bilich, Hedrick, James and Sam Morgan. Bilich and

Bibler ranked atop the conference in GPA with 4.13 and 4.11 GPA's respectively.

The Purple Eagles continue their quest for thier first MAAC title today against Siena at 4

p.m. in the MAAC Tournament semifinals.