NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. ?“ Niagara University announced today that it will cancel one game and impose other sanctions on the women?™s lacrosse team for violation of team and university rules.

Mike Hermann, director of athletics, said the action was taken after officials at the university learned that the women?™s lacrosse team conducted an initiation party that included alcohol use and other inappropriate activities.

Hermann said university officials have met with the team and issued several sanctions, including canceling the Saturday Metro Atlantic Athletics Conference game against Fairfield University. Each player must also complete 20 hours of community service this semester and take part in an alcohol and hazing education program for all student-athletes in the fall semester.

"It is important that we send a strong message to our student-athletes that we will not tolerate inappropriate or hazing activities at Niagara University," Hermann said. "The well-being of our student-athletes is the first concern of our university. We are fortunate that no injuries resulted from this event. Nevertheless, we are taking a strong stand to ensure that these activities do not happen again."