Oct. 29, 2010

Box Score

After winning relative laughers last weekend, Siena men's soccer showed it could win a close game on the road as the Saints battled back to post a 2-1 victory Friday night over defending MAAC Champion and Preseason favorite Loyola in Baltimore, Md. Trailing 1-0 at the half, Siena received second half goals from Matt Hemsley and Emery Welshman to improve to 5-1 in the MAAC.

Siena (8-6-1, 5-1) got behind early as Eddie Dines gave Loyola (8-4-2, 4-1-1) a 1-0 lead just over 12 minutes into the match. Things remained in the Greyhounds favor until five minutes into the second half when the Saints received another key contribution from another emerging underclassman star.

Following a patented Joey Tavernese flip throw, Jannis Opalka headed a ball into the box to Hemsley who finished for his third goal of the season. Five of the Saints' top seven scorers now this season are either freshmen or sophomores.

The game would remain tied into the 73rd minute when Welshman once again worked his magic. The sophomore striker, who ranks 13th nationally in points per game, dribbled through the right side and fired home the game-winning goal, his team-leading ninth tally of the season.

Welshman, who was coming off a career-high six point performance Sunday, has now scored 21 points in just 12 matches this season.

The Saints out-shot Loyola 16-9 and took six corners to the Greyhounds' four. Loyola, which entered the match ranked second in the NSCAA North Atlantic Poll, received six saves from Kyle Wittman.

Phil Chabot made three saves to earn the win for the Saints which have outscored their opposition 21-6 in conference games this fall. The victory also pushed the Saints to second place in the conference standings, just one point behind league-leading Saint Peter's whom the Saints throttled 7-1 last Sunday in Loudonville.

Additionally, the win snapped a four-game losing streak against the Greyhounds as the Saints won for just the fourth time in 25 all-time matches against their conference foe.

The Saints return to action Sunday for their final road tilt of the regular season at Rider. Game time is set for 3 p.m.