# Niagara Purple Eagles softball

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.

## 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. 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. 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 berth in the 1998 NCAA Division I softball tournament.
The Purple Eagles, led by stars Joni Sontrop and Kelly Cruttenden, faced off against Arizona in their first career NCAA tournament appearance, losing 14-0 via mercy rule in five innings. Niagara were eliminated in their second and final game of the tournament, losing 5-1 to Hawaii.
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.

### Coaching history

| Years | Coach | Record | % |
| 1981–1982 | Bill Gould | 17–19 | .472 |
| 1983–1987 | Beth Corcoran | 46–58–2 | .443 |
| 1988–1989 | Beth Bullock | 16–39–2 | .298 |
| 1990 | Gerilyn Proto | 7–21 | .250 |
| 1991–2012 | Al Dirschberger | 345–488 | .414 |
| 2013 | Ellie Chan | 16–30 | .348 |
| 2014–present | Larry Puzan | 133–290 | .314 |

## 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 | 7–21 | N/A | 8th | |
| 1991 | Al Dirschberger | 4–20 | 1–9 | 5th | |
| 1992 | Al Dirschberger | 5–19 | 0–5 | 5th | |
| 1993 | Al Dirschberger | 4–32 | 1–9 | 5th | |
| 1994 | Al Dirschberger | 10–18 | 4–8 | N/A | |
| 1995 | Al Dirschberger | 15–19 | 4–8 | N/A | |
| 1996 | Al Dirschberger | 17–17 | 7–5 | 2nd | |
| 1997 | Al Dirschberger | 23–15 | 8–4 | 2nd | |
| 1998 | Al Dirschberger | 22–19 | 10–6 | 3rd | NCAA Regionals |
| 1999 | Al Dirschberger | 10–23 | 7–9 | 5th | |
| 2000 | Al Dirschberger | 22–15 | 10–6 | 3rd | |
| 2001 | Al Dirschberger | 12–20 | 7–9 | 7th | |
| 2002 | Al Dirschberger | 8–32 | 3–13 | 9th | |
| 2003 | Al Dirschberger | 7–27 | 6–10 | 6th | |
| 2004 | Al Dirschberger | 20–26 | 8–8 | 6th | |
| 2005 | Al Dirschberger | 12–29 | 2–13 | 9th | |
| 2006 | Al Dirschberger | 24–23 | 6–10 | 6th | |
| 2007 | Al Dirschberger | 18–20 | 10–6 | 3rd | |
| 2008 | Al Dirschberger | 27–21 | 13–3 | 2nd | |
| 2009 | Al Dirschberger | 30–19 | 9–7 | 3rd | |
| 2010 | Al Dirschberger | 22–22 | 9–7 | 3rd | |
| 2011 | Al Dirschberger | 18–22 | 6–10 | 7th | |
| 2012 | Al Dirschberger | 15–30 | 7–9 | 7th | |
| 2013 | Ellie Chan | 16–30 | 9–7 | 4th | |
| 2014 | Larry Puzan | 18–30 | 8–12 | 7th | |
| 2015 | Larry Puzan | 4–40 | 4–16 | 10th | |
| 2016 | Larry Puzan | 10–38 | 8–12 | 8th | |
| 2017 | Larry Puzan | 19–26 | 10–10 | 7th | |
| 2018 | Larry Puzan | 16–33 | 8–12 | 8th | |
| 2019 | Larry Puzan | 18–32 | 11–9 | 5th | |
| 2020 | Larry Puzan | 3–7 | 0–0 | N/A | Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 | Larry Puzan | 11–19 | 11–19 | 9th | |
| 2022 | Larry Puzan | 14–26 | 8–12 | 9th | |
| 2023 | Larry Puzan | 9–34 | 3–17 | 11th | |
| Total: | 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.