Niagara Purple Eagles
UniversityNiagara University
Head coachLarry Puzan (11th season)
ConferenceMAAC
LocationLewiston, NY
Home stadiumNiagara Softball Field
NicknamePurple Eagles
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
1998
Conference Tournament championships
1998

The Niagara Purple Eagles softball team represents Niagara University in the NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Purple Eagles are currently led by head coach Larry Puzan. The team plays its home games at Niagara Softball Field located on the university's campus.[2]

History

Since joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1990, Niagara has failed to win a conference regular season title but have managed to finish second three times, doing so in 1996, 1997, and 2008.[3] The Purple Eagles have been largely unsuccessful since establishing a team in 1981. Niagara has posted a winning season only seven times in 41 years, six of those with former coach Al Dirschberger.[4] The most recent winning season came in 2009. They have, however, managed to win a conference tournament title, doing so in 1998. In doing so, Niagara earned a birth in the 1998 NCAA Division I softball tournament.[5]

The Purple Eagles, led by stars Joni Sontrop and Kelly Cruttenden,[6] faced off against Arizona in their first career NCAA tournament appearance, losing 14-0 via mercy rule in five innings.[7][5] Niagara were eliminated in their second and final game of the tournament, losing 5-1 to Hawaii.[8][5]

Former head coach Al Dirschberger was convicted of raping a 28 year old woman in 2017 and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He was released in 2023 and will be under probation for ten years.[9][10][11]

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1981–1982Bill Gould17–19.472
1983–1987Beth Corcoran46–58–2.443
1988–1989Beth Bullock16–39–2.298
1990Gerilyn Proto7–21.250
1991–2012Al Dirschberger345–488.414
2013Ellie Chan16–30.348
2014–presentLarry Puzan133–290.314

Roster

2024 Niagara Purple Eagles roster
 

Pitchers

  • 16 – Maddie Hickingbottom – Graduate Student
  • 19 – Cara Leone – Graduate Student
  • 52 – Sage Jackson – Junior

Catchers

  • 00 – Jolyn Gibbons – Sophomore
  • 24 – Maggie Kellner – Senior
  • 44 – Sophia Marrero – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 9 – Samantha Hare – Senior
  • 29 – Madison LaPenta – Junior
  • – Samantha Miller – Graduate Student
  • 22 – Jaden Swiatek – Senior
  

Infielders

  • 12 – Hailey Cenname – Sophomore
  • – Brianna Delaney – Freshman
  • – Natasha Limbani – Freshman
  • 99 – Bayleigh McCullough – Junior
  • 20 – Hannah Mingle – Junior
  • – Selah Moyer – Freshman
  • 77 – Shayna Myshrall – Graduate Student
  • 8 – Payton Rano – Sophomore
  • 42 – Julia Thompson – Graduate Student

Utility

  • 7 – Kaylee Haines – Sophomore
  • – Kira Kilonsky – Freshman
  • 5 – Lindsay Mayo – Junior
  
Reference:[12]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Niagara Purple Eagles (America East Conference) (1981–1989)
1981 Bill Gould 7–9
1982 Bill Gould 10–10
1983 Beth Corcoran 10–12
1984 Beth Corcoran 13–5
1985 Beth Corcoran 8–9–1
1986 Beth Corcoran 11–18–1
1987 Beth Corcoran 4–14
1988 Beth Bullock 5–24–2
1989 Beth Bullock 11–15
Niagara Purple Eagles (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (1990–present)
1990 Gerilyn Proto 7–21N/A8th
1991 Al Dirschberger 4–201–95th
1992 Al Dirschberger 5–190–55th
1993 Al Dirschberger 4–321–95th
1994 Al Dirschberger 10–184–8N/A
1995 Al Dirschberger 15–194–8N/A
1996 Al Dirschberger 17–177–52nd
1997 Al Dirschberger 23–158–42nd
1998 Al Dirschberger 22–1910–63rdNCAA Regionals
1999 Al Dirschberger 10–237–95th
2000 Al Dirschberger 22–1510–63rd
2001 Al Dirschberger 12–207–97th
2002 Al Dirschberger 8–323–139th
2003 Al Dirschberger 7–276–106th
2004 Al Dirschberger 20–268–86th
2005 Al Dirschberger 12–292–139th
2006 Al Dirschberger 24–236–106th
2007 Al Dirschberger 18–2010–63rd
2008 Al Dirschberger 27–2113–32nd
2009 Al Dirschberger 30–199–73rd
2010 Al Dirschberger 22–229–73rd
2011 Al Dirschberger 18–226–107th
2012 Al Dirschberger 15–307–97th
2013 Ellie Chan 16–309–74th
2014 Larry Puzan 18–308–127th
2015 Larry Puzan 4–404–1610th
2016 Larry Puzan 10–388–128th
2017 Larry Puzan 19–2610–107th
2018 Larry Puzan 16–338–128th
2019 Larry Puzan 18–3211–95th
2020 Larry Puzan 3–70–0N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Larry Puzan 11–1911–199th
2022 Larry Puzan 14–268–129th
2023 Larry Puzan 9–343–1711th
Total:571–959–4 (.374)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

As of April 10, 2023.[13][3][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Niagara Softball Field". PurpleEagles.com. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  3. 1 2 "Softball Records (PDF)" (PDF). Niagara University Athletics.
  4. ↑ Bronstein, Jonah. "Niagara's interim softball coach has turned program around". Buffalo News.
  5. 1 2 3 "1998 NCAA Women's College World Series". Softball History USA. December 3, 2020.
  6. ↑ "NIAGARA PAIR EARNS MAAC SOFTBALL HONORS". Buffalo News.
  7. ↑ "NIAGARA TO FACE ARIZONA IN SOFTBALL". Buffalo News.
  8. ↑ "20th Anniversary Of MAAC Softball Championship To Be Celebrated May 5". Niagara University Athletics.
  9. ↑ "Former Erie County Social Services chief sentenced for raping employee". wgrz.com. April 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Former Erie County Social Services chief released from prison after 4 years". wgrz.com. June 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Former Division I head coach Dirschberger sentenced to prison". April 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ "2024 Softball Roster". Niagara University Athletics.
  13. ↑ "2023 Softball Schedule". Niagara University Athletics.
  14. ↑ "Softball Standings 1986-2022". maacsports.com.
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