NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Niagara University men's and women's swim teams officially opened the season with a dual meet against A-10 rival St. Bonaventure on Friday evening. The women defeated Bona 110-95, while the men fell 116.5-87.5. 

Women's Recap
Freshman Natalie Killion had a memorable collegiate debut with wins in the 200 free and 100 back. In the 200 free, Killion posted a time of 1:53.31, nearly three seconds ahead of the St. Bonaventure runner-up. 

Killion set a program record in the 100 back with a time of 56.55, beating the St. Bonaventure swimmer by 1.15 seconds. 

Junior Maggie Marody won the Purple Eagles' first event of the evening, posting a time of 10:51.15 in the 1,000 free. Sophomore Avery King was close behind, with a time of 10:52.50 in second place. 

Marody also took home a fifth-place finish in the 500 free, an event won by freshman teammate Mary Carl with a time of 5:12.35. 

First-year Purple Eagles continued to shine in NU's first meet of the season as Alaina Pitton won the 100 breast with a time of 1:04.29. Junior Megan Smith placed second in the event with a time of 1:07.15. Pitton also placed second in the 50 free with a time of 24.65, followed by Paige South in third with a time of 24.67. 

NU capped off the night with a win in the 200 free relay as South, Lila Maddux, Megan Jackson, and Claire Gorton teamed up to post a time of 1:36.85. 

Men's Recap
The Purple and White picked up two relay wins and three individual wins in its loss to Little Three rival Friday afternoon. Junior Sean Finley won two individual events and was a member of both relay wins. 

Finley was second off the block in NU's first relay win, the 200 medley relay, as he, Reid Tichy, Will Manolistas, and Levi Morgan won the first event of the day with a time of 1:33.12. The junior later won the 100 IM with a program record time of 52.67 and the 100 breast with a mark of 57.39. 

Morgan won the 50 free with a time of 21.08, edging his teammate Nathan Dragon by two-tenths of a second. 

NU capped off the night with a win in the 200 free relay as Dragon, Tichy, Jake Wade, and Morgan beat the Bonnie's relay team by less than three-tenths of a second. 

Manolistas added to his relay win with a second-place finish in the 100 fly, finishing with a time of 52.80. 

Tichy, a member of both relays, finished third in his lone individual event of the night, posting a time of 1:43.51 in the 200 free. 

Freshman Nate Eaton finished third in the 1,000 free. 

Up Next
The Niagara men will be back in action on Oct. 21 when it travels to Cornell before rejoining the women on Oct. 29 for a trip to Youngstown State. The women will also compete against Saint Francis (Pa.) in Youngstown.