Sept. 12, 2003
The Stony Brook Game
LaValle Stadium (8,254-Field Turf) -- Stony Brook, N.Y.
Game 2: Saturday, September 13 -- 6 p.m.
Siena College (0-1/0-1 MAAC) vs. Stony Brook (0-0/0-0 NEC)
Radio: 88.3 WVCR The Saint -- Play-by-Play: Robert Lee
Internet: www.SienaSaints.com
THE STONY BROOK SERIES...
Stony Brook has won all six meetings between the two teams (the first five encounters took place when Siena and Stony Brook were club teams)...Last year at Heritage Park, the Saints' defense kept them within striking distance all day before a pair of second half touchdowns by the Seawolves led to a 14-0 victory for the visitors...Sophomore running back Sal Jeraci paced the Saints with 76 yards rushing on 15 carries...Senior linebacker Dan Smacchia notched 16 tackles to go along with one sack.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Saints enter this week's game off a hard-fought 19-14 defeat at the hands of the Iona Gaels...Quarterback Christian Karolus completed 10-of-17 passes for 134 yards and contributed 19 yards on the ground along with a rushing TD...Karolus directed the Saints' final drive, completing 3-of-6 passes for 43 yards before being intercepted to end the game...Senior linebacker Dan Smacchia led the vaunted Siena defense with 17 tackles and 2 forced fumbles...He also made a key interception at the end of the third quarter...Sophomore SS Joe Serratelli backed Smacchia's efforts with 10 tackles of his own as well as an interception...Freshman CB Brandon Matano, making his debut for the Saints, recovered a fumble and darted 82 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.
AWARDS CEREMONY
Senior linebacker Dan Smacchia garnered three honors this past week for his performance in the game against Iona...He was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, I-AA Mid-Major Defensive Player of the Week by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and ECAC Honorable Mention I-AA Defensive Player of the Week...Freshman CB Brandon Matano joined Smacchia in the recognition winning MAAC Rookie of Week...Matano's performance was highlighted by an 82-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown that got the Saints back into the game.
QUICK HITS...
Freshman RB Bruce Riggins (Troy, N.Y.) made his debut for the Saints contributing to a balanced rushing attack with 14 yards on five carries...Junior K Charles Conklin has moved within five PAT's of tying the school-record of 27...For his career Conklin is 22-27 on extra points...20 members of the Saints' hail from Long Island and will be making the trip home this weekend...The Saints will be making their first appearance at LaValle Stadium, which opened in 2002...Siena will be trying to win it's first non-conference game away from home since 1998, when the Saints defeated Bryant College by a score of 20-14...Senior Christian Karolus returns for his fourth season as the Saints starting quarterback...At 30 years of age, Head Coach Jay Bateman is the youngest football coach in all of Division I.
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
Senior linebacker Dan Smacchia continues to pile up the accolades this season...To date for his career, he has been named MAAC Football League Defensive Player of the Week four times...Smacchia has been awarded ECAC Defensive Player of the Week twice...He has been named to the All-MAACFL First Team the past two seasons and was also selected a Mid-Major All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette...The past two seasons, the Sports Network tabbed Smacchia a Preseason All-American as well...This year, Smacchia was named 2003 Preseason MAACFL Defensive Player of the Year.
FRESHMEN PHENOMS...
There are six freshmen on the Saints roster who hail from the Capital Region, highlighted by running back Bruce Riggins (Troy, N.Y./Troy High School)...Three of the freshmen made their debuts for the Saints in the opening game against Iona...Joining Riggins in that group are linebacker Tom Genovesi (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) and safety Kevin Jordan (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna).
INJURY REPORT...
Senior cornerback Khalid Rice tore cartilage in his knee and is expected to miss four to six weeks...Starting fullback Jason Hausmann sprained his MCL and is expected to miss one more week.
NOT-SO-GRAND OPENING...
The Saints dropped their fifth straight season-opener last Saturday and have now lost 11 of their last 12...The last time Siena has a winning record was 1998, when the team defeated Sacred Heart 27-9 to start the season.
PRESEASON POLL...
Siena was chosen fifth in the six-team MAAC at the conference's annual Media Day at Giants Stadium in early August...The MAAC lost three members in the off-season, as Canisius, St. John's and Fairfield each dropped their programs (coincidently the three teams Siena defeated)...Here is a look at the preseason speculation.
1. Duquesne 35 (5)
2. Iona 25
3. Marist 22
4. Saint Peter's 20
5. Siena 13
6. LaSalle 11
SIENA AND THE NEC...
Siena is 0-3 against team's from the North East Conference during the Jay Bateman era (last three seasons)...This year, the Saints will play NEC foes Wagner and Central Connecticut in addition to Stony Brook this evening.
AT THE AUCTION...
Siena has joined with over 100 schools to offer memorabilia and experiences to its fans through EBay--the on-line auction leader...Among the items that have been auctioned off so far: the opportunity to kick practice field goals before a home Siena game, a locker room experience that permits the winner access before and after the game as well as the chance to announce the starting lineups for a home game...The auction items can be accessed from Siena's home page at www.SienaSaints.com.
