Nate Katz finished second in the 100 free vs. Buffalo Thursday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both lost their first meet of the new year when the men’s team lost 138-52 to Buffalo and the women, 129-68, to the Bulls Thursday in Alumni Arena Natatorium on the Buffalo campus.

On the men’s side, Nate Katz and Brandon Smith finished first and second in the 100 free. Katz finished in 50.41 and Smith in 50.71. Kevin Klien placed second in the 200 back in a time of 2:03.05 and Dave Germain won the 3-meter diving event with a score of 202.88.

The women’s team had Kim Shoemaker won the 500 free in 6:58.22. Courtney Caley and Kristan Heller placed first and second in the 200 breast. Caley finished the event in 2:49.65 and Heller in 2:50.07. Also placing first for the Purple Eagles was the 400 free relay team. The team of Jody Pangburn, Beth Budniak, Stacie Thoman and Alicia Guerrette finished the event in 4:06.75. Traci Liberi finished second in the 100 free in 55.55.

Both teams return to action Saturday when they host Waterloo in an exhibition meet at the Kiernan Center pool on the Niagara University campus.