Five Things to Know: Men's Soccer Set to Host UC Riverside - Canisius University Athletics (2024)

Game No. 2
UC Riverside (1-0-0) at Canisius (0-0-1)
Date: Sunday, Aug. 29
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Demske Sports Complex
Broadcast: ESPN+
Live Stats: Via GoGriffs.com
Twitter: @GriffsSoccer | #Griffs | #MAACSoccer

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Setting the Pitch
The Canisius men's soccer team concludes its two-game homestand by welcoming UC Riverside to the Demske Sports Complex Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

2. Last Time Out
Sophom*ore forward Luke Szablewski scored his first collegiate goal, while junior goalkeeper Spencer Catalano made a career-high eight saves in Canisius' 1-1 draw with Utah Valley at the Demske Sports Complex on Thursday evening.

Szablewski potted his first collegiate tally in the game's 10th minute when he capitalized on a Utah Valley miscue.

Catalano made four saves in the first half, two of which came in the first two minutes of the contest.

The highlight of the half for Catalano was a great stop on a Mark Brown shot in the 17th minute. The junior goalkeeper deflected Brown's left-footed strike on a cross nearly inside the 8-foot box.

3. Season-Opening Tie
Thursday's tie with Utah Valley marked the sixth time in program history that the Griffs opened their season with a draw.

The most recent time Canisius tied in its season-opening match was during the 2012 season against Buffalo (Aug. 24).

Canisius has had two instances of starting a season with back-to-back ties (1994 and 2012).

4. California Dreaming
Sunday's match is the first time Canisius will be facing UC Riverside in men's soccer.

The contest also serves as the seventh time Canisius is playing a school located in California. All previous meetings have been against different schools.

All of the meetings against Golden State schools have occurred during current head coach Dermot McGrane's tenure on Main Street.

5. Time-Zone Hopping
Canisius is hosting a team at least three time zones away for the first time in program history.

It is just the third time in program history that the Griffs are hosting a non-Eastern time zone opponent.

Thursday's match against Utah Valley was the most recent occurrence of the Blue and Gold hosting a non-Eastern time zone opponent. The match was the first time in 22 years the Griffs entertained a team from outside the Eastern time zone, with the other instance occurring on Sept. 4, 1999 against Valparaiso.

For complete coverage of Canisius men's soccer, please follow @GriffsSoccer on Instagram and Twitter.