Oct. 15, 2010

Box Score

Siena's perfect season is no more. Jenny Griffin's golden goal less than four minutes into double overtime pushed Canisius past the Saints 3-2 Friday night in Buffalo. With the Saints' first defeat of the season, only top-ranked Stanford is standing as the last remaining unbeaten team in the nation.

"It was a tough, physical and open game where both teams had runs forward and good opportunities," noted head coach Steve Karbowski. "We had more than enough chances and didn't put them in at the right times."

Siena (12-1, 4-1), which entered the match ranked 25th nationally by Soccer America, looked like it was off to another positive result early on. The Saints controlled the action in the first half, out-shooting Canisius (9-4, 3-1) 10-5 and took a 1-0 lead into intermission thanks to Brittany Pfaff's team-leading eighth goal in the 19th minute.

But in a topsy-turvy second half, Canisius would even the score early. Caroline Robert made it 1-1 just 47 seconds into the stanza which would lead to a furious finish. Although Siena took 16 shots in the second half, it was the Griffs who would put the Saints on their heels.

With just 7:15 remaining, Brianna Smith fired home a shot the put Canisius in the driver's seat. But as Siena has demonstrated time and time again all year long, they would not go down without a fight.

A minute and 45 seconds later, junior Lindsay Tegas would give the Saints a second life. Ashleigh Barone played a cross that trickled all the way across to Tegas on the far side who slid it past the keeper to tie things at 2-2.

"The way our team responded at that point was absolutely unbelievable," added Karbowski. "We just stepped up. Everyone took it upon themselves to do a little more and if we were going to go down, we were going to do it fighting."

Siena even had a few opportunities to win it in the end, but the game would remain tied and go to overtime. After things remained scoreless after the first extra session, it was the Griffs, who would be golden in the second as Griffin tallied the game-winner at 103:57 to serve Siena its first "L" of the season.

"We talked after the game and said that if at any point this year you told me we were going to be 12-1 I'd take it in a second," said Karbowski. "Our goal is a MAAC Championship so right now the MAAC Tournament is our number one goal. We are in good position to do that still and need to make sure that we take care of some results ahead of us."

Siena fired a season-high 29 shots to Canisius' 16 and held a 9-1 advantage in corners. The Griffs' Leslie Ivinac was strong in goal, making six of her seven saves after halftime to earn the win.

Siena looks to regroup when it returns to the field to conclude its Western New York trip Sunday at Niagara. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.