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THE BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE
During the 2006-07 athletic season, Canisius University and Niagara University developed an all-sports competition in an effort to enhance the historic rivalry between the Golden Griffins and Purple Eagles. Each year, the winning school is awarded the Canal Cup.
The name of the series is in reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling to the other's campus. The name of the trophy is in reference to the Erie Canal, which intersects Niagara County, where Niagara is located, and Erie County, where Canisius is located.
Records indicate the two schools first met on the basketball court in 1904. Currently, Canisius and Niagara compete in baseball, men and women's basketball, men and women's cross country, golf, ice hockey, women's lacrosse, men and women's soccer, men and women's swimming and diving, softball, women's outdoor track and volleyball.
Points are awarded to the winner of regular-season contests, except for cross country, golf, swimming and diving and women's outdoor track, which are determined by final Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship (MAAC) championship results. Final results are posted on each school's official athletic department website throughout the athletic year.
If, at the end of the athletic year, there is a tie in total points, the school that holds the Canal Cup retains it into the next year.
2023-24 BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE SCORING SYSTEM
• For men's and women's soccer, the winning school is awarded two points. If the game ends in a draw, each school receives one point.
• Volleyball plays twice during the conference schedule, with each regular-season contest worth one point (two points available).
• In hockey, the teams play three times during the regular season. Each game is worth one point (three total points available). If a game ends in a tie, the winner of the Atlantic Hockey sanctioned shoot-out earns the game's one point.Â
• Women's basketball meets twice during the regular season. Each game is worth two points (four total points).
• For men's basketball, the two teams play twice during the regular season. Each game is worth two points (four points total).
• For women's lacrosse, the winning school is awarded two points.
• For softball, the winner of the three-game series during the MAAC's regular season will be awarded two points.
• For baseball, the winner of the three-game series during the MAAC's regular season will be awarded two points.
• Men's and women's cross country, men's and women's swimming and diving, golf and women's outdoor track points are determined by final standings at each sports' respective MAAC Championship. The school that finishes higher will be awarded the points (two points available per sport).
• If a non-conference regular-season or postseason game or series between Canisius and Niagara is scheduled in any sport, it does not count in the final standings.
2023-24 BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE SCHEDULE
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| Date |
Sport |
Location |
Time/Result |
Canisius |
Niagara |
| Sept. 30 |
Volleyball |
Canisius |
NIA 3, CAN 1 |
0 |
1 |
| Oct. 1 |
Volleyball |
Niagara |
NIA 3, CAN 0 |
0 |
1 |
| Oct. 25 |
Women's Soccer |
Canisius |
CAN 2, NIA 1 |
2 |
0 |
| Oct. 25 |
Men's Soccer |
Canisius |
NIA 3, CAN 0 |
0 |
2 |
| Oct. 28 |
Women's Cross Country |
MAAC Championship |
CAN 5th, NIA 10th |
2 |
0 |
| Oct. 28 |
Men's Cross Country |
MAAC Championship |
CAN 4th, NIA 7th |
2 |
0 |
| Jan. 19 |
Hockey |
Canisius |
NIA 4, CAN 2 |
0 |
1 |
| Jan. 20 |
Hockey |
Niagara |
NIA 6, CAN 4 |
0 |
1 |
| Jan. 30 |
Women's Basketball |
Canisius |
NIA 65, CAN 55 |
0 |
2 |
| Feb. 6 |
Men's Basketball |
Niagara |
NIA 69, CAN 64 |
0 |
2 |
| Feb. 6 |
Hockey |
Canisius |
NIA 3, CAN 2 (OT) |
0 |
1 |
| Feb. 14-17 |
Women's Swim/Dive |
MAAC Championship |
NIA 1st, CAN 4th |
0 |
2 |
| Feb. 14-17 |
Men's Swim/Dive |
MAAC Championship |
NIA 2nd, CAN 6th |
0 |
2 |
| Feb. 23 |
Men's Basketball |
Canisius |
CAN 69, NIA 59 |
2 |
0 |
| March 9 |
Women's Basketball |
Niagara |
NIA 84, CAN 50 |
0 |
2 |
| April 9-10 |
Softball Series |
Niagara |
NIA 2, CAN 1 |
0 |
2 |
| April 17 |
Women's Lacrosse |
Canisius |
NIA 16, CAN 12 |
0 |
2 |
| April 19-21 |
Golf |
MAAC Championship |
CAN 7th, NIA 8th |
2 |
0 |
| May 4-5 |
Outdoor Track |
MAAC Championship |
TBA |
0 |
0 |
| May 17-19 |
Baseball Series |
Canisius |
TBA |
0 |
0 |
BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE ALL-TIME HISTORY AND RESULTS
2006-07 (PDF): NIAGARA 24, CANISIUS 10
2007-08 (PDF): CANISIUS 21, NIAGARA 13
2008-09 (PDF): CANISIUS 23, NIAGARA 11
2009-10 (PDF): NIAGARA 17, CANISIUS 15
2010-11 (PDF): CANISIUS 20, NIAGARA 13
2011-12 (PDF): CANISIUS 18.5, NIAGARA 14.5
2012-13 (PDF): CANISIUS 21, NIAGARA 12
2013-14 (PDF): CANISIUS 23.5, NIAGARA 9.5
2014-15 (PDF): CANISIUS 23, NIAGARA 10
2015-16 (PDF): CANISIUS 24.5, NIAGARA 9.5
2016-17 (PDF): CANISIUS 30, NIAGARA 8
2017-18 (PDF): CANISIUS 27, NIAGARA 9
2018-19 (PDF): CANISIUS 23, NIAGARA 13Â
2019-20 (PDF): CANISIUS 16, NIAGARA 10
2020-21 (PDF): NIAGARA 16, CANISIUS 10
2021-22 (PDF): NIAGARA 23, CANISIUS 13
2022-23 (PDF): CANISIUS 19, NIAGARA 17
CANAL CUPS BY SCHOOL, LAST YEAR WON
CANISIUS - 13, 2022-23
NIAGARA - 4, 2021-22
