Oct. 17, 2010

Box Score

Siena entered the weekend as the only remaining undefeated and untied team in the nation. They head home from Western New York two days later as one of a handful of two-loss teams in the country. Chelsea Spencer's goal in the 61st minute proved to be enough as Niagara handed No. 25 Siena its second straight defeat Sunday, 1-0 in Niagara University, N.Y.

The shutout marked the first time that the Saints (12-2, 4-2) had been held scoreless since last season's MAAC Tournament defeat to Marist. It's also the first time the Saints have dropped consecutive matches since losing three in a row midway through the 2007 season.

Niagara (8-4-1, 3-2) out-played Siena in the first half and through the first 61 minutes of action out-shot the normally offensively potent Saints 11-5. Spencer, who had twice been denied earlier in the half by Siena keeper Elizabeth Barna, cashed in on her third attempt. Spencer fired a long shot that Barna got a piece of but could not corral as the ball deflected up and in for the decisive goal.

Siena responded by turning up the tempo and out-shot Niagara 7-2 the rest of the way but could not solve Purple Eagles' keeper Ashleigh Bowers who continued to stone the Saints' attempts.

Niagara out-shot Siena 13-12 and held a decided 11-3 edge in corner kicks. The Purple Eagles played a physical style which caused them to be whistled for 21 fouls, while the Saints committed just six.

Bowers registered five saves to earn the shutout for Niagara, while the Saints' Barna made seven saves.

The Saints return to the friendly confines of Siena Field Tuesday for a rare, late-season, non-conference game that kicks off at 3 p.m. The Green and Gold will host Harvard as they take a third shot at matching the program's single-season record with 13 wins.