East's Griffin commits with Canisius College
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East senior Jenny Griffin, front row, middle, signed her National Letter of Intent last Wednesday at East to play soccer at Canisius College. Also pictured in the front row are her parents, Vince and Cherie. Pictured back row, far left, is East principal Neal Miller, East varsity girls soccer coach Chris Durr and East Athletics Director Chris Mucica. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

The greatest girls soccer player in the history of Williamsville East will be staying local to continue her soccer career.

Jenny Griffin signed her National Letter of Intent with Canisius College last Wednesday at East.

The senior center midfielder was also looking at Fredonia State College but wanted to play for the Lady Golden Griffins because it's a Division I school (Fredonia is Division III), it was closer to home, and the school was offering her major, criminal justice. Niagara University was also an option.

"I really liked the campus and dorms," added Griffin of Canisius. "I stayed overnight with the team and I liked them."

Griffin credits her mother, Cherie, for helping her narrow down what colleges to pursue.

Canisius is getting one heck of a player. Griffin leaves East as the all-time leader in goals (76) and assists (69). In addition to setting those marks in her senior season, she also set the East record for goals in a season with 25. Her 25th goal came in East's 2-1 loss to East Aurora in the Section VI Class A finals. East was losing 2-0 when she dribbled between five people and scored into the far post.

"She is the best soccer player to come through East in the 13 years that I've been here," said East coach Chris Durr. "And I've had a lot of great players. She was arguably the best player this year in Western New York. What is remarkable about her goal record is that 85 percent of her goals have come from the midfield (last two years played at center midfield) so it shows her ability to score."

"She has the total package," he added. "She has the ability to score and lead a team. She's tough. As a junior, she played the section finals and regionals with a bruised ACL and meniscus."

Griffin said she was told by Canisius coaches that she would play in the center midfield but Canisius' head coach was recently fired so she is unsure where she will fit in once a new coach is hired.

Last fall, Canisius finished 6-10-2 overall and 3-5-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Griffin helped East to a 19-1-2 record, its sixth ECIC II championship and its eighth appearance in a section final in the last nine years.

She is a two-time All-Western New York and All-New York State First Team selection and a four-time ECIC First Team pick. She also was the first East player to be chosen to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region team.

Griffin earned gold and silver at the 2006 and 2007 Empire State Games as a member of the Western Region's scholastic women's soccer team.

She also plays club soccer for Buffalo United and was on the New York State West Under 16 championship team in 2006 that advanced to the Region I Tournament in Virginia Beach. The team was ranked 30th in the nation by gotsoccer. com.

She has competed in the Region I Directors Premier League, was on the U-16 champions in the March Madness Invitational in Baltimore, Md. and a regional finalist through US National Cup.

Griffin's favorite memories from East will be breaking three school records and beating Grand Island for the section title in 2006.

She will be attending Canisius on a full athletic and academic scholarship.

Local players on Canisius' 2007-08 roster was Kathleen DiPasquale (Williamsville North), Sarah Galante (Mount St. Mary's), Lisa Nicholas (Tonawanda), Amanda Janosky (Lake Shore) and Camille Blum (Alden).