Oct. 8, 2004
Final Stats
Senior Jessica Peluso's second goal of the game at the 53:08 mark proved to be the game-winner, propelling Siena to a thrilling 5-3 victory over Saint Francis on a temperate Friday afternoon in Loudonville. The Red Flash rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game at 3-3 in the second half, but Siena found the answer in a rejuvenated offensive effort.
Siena sprinted to an early lead, scoring on its first three shots of the game. Junior Kathleen Brennan broke the ice just under three minutes into the game, scoring following a penalty corner. Emily Winslow centered the ball to Carly Demartis who found Brennan on the left side of the cage for the finish.
The Saints added to their lead at the 8:35 mark with a sensational goal. Winslow stole a pass outside the circle, and weaved her way past defenders on the left side of the field. When she found enough room, she fired a cross that Pelusso deflected into the cage. Hanna Lestrange's first collegiate goal gave Siena a commanding 3-0 lead less than 20 minutes into live action. LeStarnge took a feed from classmate Ashley Pereira on an odd-man rush.
St. Francis responded emphatically, closing the gap to a single goal at intermission. Jessica Paul deflected Erin Davis's entry pass following one of 15 penalty corners for the Red Flash for the visitors first score. Monica Nicoles took advantage of a Siena turnover deep in its own territory, by blasting a shot past Siena's Kristen Heyde to make the score 3-2. Samantha Nonweiler picked up her first of two assist on the 2-on-1 advantage.
The Red Flash tied the game on Annie Paccione's score 11 minutes into the decisive stanza. Heyde then buckled down in the cage. The Saints all-time leader in career saves made 11 stops on the afternoon, as the Red Flash peppered the cage with 18 shots.
Peluso's score shifted the momentum back in favor of the home team. The senior forward finished a flurry of activity in front of the cage, pushing the ball past Kristen Onto for the 4-3 lead.
Freshman Traci Baldwin capped off the scoring with a nifty insurance goal with 9:59 showing on the clock. Baldwin maneuvered her way across the circle and scored with a reverse stick shot accounting for the final margin. Siena, now 2-2 in NEC play and 2-8 on the season, returns to NEC action against Lock Haven in Loudonville Sunday.
