Box score

BUFFALO, NY--The Golden Griffins, who were 6-1-1 at home in 2008, won Sunday's 2009 home opener thanks to a goal off of a restart in the sixth minute of the second half against NJIT.

Awarded a free kick, Canisius managed the game's only goal when senior Sylvia Kowalski, an all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honoree in 2008 with eight goals, finished her first goal of 2009 on an assist by classmate Meagan Jones at 50:24.

Canisius sophomore Caroline Robert, who set a school record in 2008 with a 0.89 goals against average, collected three saves against NJIT on Sunday in posting her first shutout of the new season.

NJIT's goalkeeper, Sadie Mele, played all 90 minutes and allowed the one goal without a save.

The first half plenty of whistles, with the teams combining for 14 fouls and four offsides, but the only shot for either squad came off the foot of NJIT's Jennifer Kalczewski in the 17th minute, forcing the first of Robert's saves on the day.

Canisius had a shot wide in the early minutes of the second half and NJIT put another shot on goal, this time by Christi Taylor, forcing another save just seconds before the Highlanders were whistled for the foul that awarded the fateful free kick to Canisius that resulted in Kowalski's goal.

The final totals were: NJIT had eight shots (three on goal) to five (one on goal) for Canisius; the corner kicks favored the home team, 5-3; and the fouls were 16 called on NJIT to eight for the Golden Griffins.

The win left Canisius with a 1-0-1 record, with the Griffs having tied their 2009 opener, 2-2, at Youngstown State Friday afternoon. NJIT is 0-2, having lost at defending Patriot League champion Army, 3-0. Friday evening.

Sunday's game was the second all-time meeting between the programs. Canisius won at NJIT, 3-0, last September.

NJIT's next action will be its home opening game at 7 pm Friday on Lubetkin Field against Drexel.