POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Niagara softball team lost in the 2009 MAAC Softball Championship Game to archrival Canisius, 9-0, on Saturday afternoon from Gartland Field on the campus of Marist College.

The championship game was the third game Niagara (30-19) played today and the Purple and White avoided elimination twice before falling in the final. The Purple Eagles defeated Manhattan 8-1 in a game that was suspended on Friday night, and then beat Canisius 2-0 to set up the winner-take-all final.

Canisius (26-22) scored seven runs in the first two innings to put Niagara in a hole it would not get out of. Six of those runs were credited to Michelle Krier (Kenmore, N.Y.), whose complete game effort against Manhattan kept Niagara alive in the tournament.

Niagara finishes the season with a program record 30 wins.

Junior Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine), sophomore Teresa Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) and freshman pitcher Julie DiMatteo (South Portland, Maine) were named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team.

MAAC All-Tournament Team
Sarah Minice, FFD
Kayla Marth, FFD
Kristina Walraven, MAN
Ashley Rampino, MAN
Julie DiMatteo, NIA
Kristin Kill, NIA
Teresa Healy, NIA
Mallory Aldred, CAN
Rachelle Barrientos, CAN
Lizzy Gatto, CAN
Michelle Fridey, CAN

Most Outstanding Player – Cameron Norton, CAN