Nov. 16, 2002

Box Score

Chris Price ran for 104 yards and Adam Ercoli returned a Siena fumble 31 yards for what turned out to be the game-winning score as Marist (7-4/5-3 MAACFL) topped Siena (3-7/3-5 MAACFL) at Heritage Park Saturday afternoon. The Siena offense sputtered all afternoon and managed just 105 total yards on the snow-covered surface.

Ercoli's fumble recovery came with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half and turned out to provide all the scoring Marist would need. The Saints dominated the first period of play, but could not break through for a score.

Siena forced a Marist punt on the game's initial possession, and then controlled the ball for over 10 minutes before being forced to punt themselves. The Saints were victimized by penalties all afternoon, including a crucial infraction near the end of the drive.

Marist took the 7-0 lead to the locker room and then added a crucial 21-yard third quarter field goal by Brett Briggs. The clinching score came three minutes into the final stanza as Nick Richardson plunged into the endzone from a yard out. Briggs would add his second field goal with just under seven minutes remaining to account for the final tally.

"Our kids played hard all season and its disappointing, especially for our seniors, for it to end this way," Head Coach Jay Bateman said following the loss. "The seniors can take solace in the fact that they have helped improve the program tremendously and have us headed in the right direction."

Marist out-gained Siena 209-105 as neither time could mount any semblance of a passing game all afternoon. The Saints ran the ball 41 times in their 49 offensive plays.

Dan Smacchia anchored the Siena defense with 16 tackles, finishing the season among the region's leaders with 125.

Siena finishes the season with three MAAC victories-their most since the 1997 season.