Nov. 5, 2010

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD. - After being upset in last year's tournament by Marist, the Saints returned the favor to the Red Foxes showing that revenge is a dish best served cold. Despite getting down by a goal just two minutes into the game, the third-seeded Saints responded with four second half goals in ousting second seed Marist 4-2 this evening at the 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Women's Soccer Championships at the Ridley Athletic Complex. Siena advances to face top-seed Canisius in the MAAC Championship match Sunday at 1 p.m.

"They've come back all season long and it was no different tonight," said head coach Steve Karbowski of his team. "Even though we were down at halftime I said this is where we want to be. We've been a tremendous second half team all season long and we proved that again today."

Siena (16-3) found itself in a familiar spot against Marist (10-9-1) - trailing just moments into the game. Two weeks ago the Saints also trailed two minutes into the contest in Poughkeepsie but could not recover. This time would be different as the Saints would post their fifth come-from-behind victory of the season.

The Red Foxes got on the board first on an almost improbable tally. Off a corner kick from the right of the goal, Marist's Rycke Guiney bent in her service that somehow nestled in just underneath the near post.

Siena responded well with numerous chances the rest of the half, but could not crack the Marist goal. The Saints out-shot Marist 11-4 in the first half but Red Foxes' keeper Jamie Balzarini preserved the lead with four saves.

But in the second half, as the Saints have done time and time again this year, they found a way to dig deep and come back. The Saints would receive their second life in the 59th minute from Lindsay Tegas. Brittany Pfaff played in a ball from the right to the middle of the field to Caitlin Cahalan who found a streaking Tegas down the left side for her sixth goal of the season.

"It was a quality finish by Tegas," noted Karbowski. "All we needed was that one goal to feel good about ourselves and get rolling."

Roll the Saints would. Moments later senior captain Tabitha Tice, who kicked the Saints into the MAAC Tournament with back-to-back game winners in the Saints' final two victories of the regular season, came up with yet another big goal. Off a deflected shot by Cahalan, the long rebound came just outside the top of the box to Tice who settled it onto her foot and then rocketed it in near post to give the Saints the lead for good.

"She's been huge all season long," Karbowski said of Tice. "She has had a great season and what a quality goal she scored today. She's our leader and she's sending us to the next game."

Before the Red Foxes could even react, the Saints put the icing on the cake. Pfaff and Ashleigh Barone scored in a four-minute span on tremendous individual efforts that added an exclamation point to a thrilling victory.

Siena now advances to the MAAC Championship match for the third time in program history and first time since 2006 when they take on the top-seeded Golden Griffins Sunday. Canisius punched its ticket to the championship with a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Rider earlier in the day. Neither Siena nor Canisius has ever won the MAAC Championship.

"Having lost to Canisius earlier in the year there is some extra motivation for us going into Sunday," added Karbowski. "They are a good team and it will be a tough game. We are going to enjoy this win tonight for a few minutes and then get ready for Sunday."

Sunday's MAAC Championship match is slated to kick off from Ridley Athletic Complex Sunday at 1 p.m. Check back frequently to SienaSaints.com this weekend for additional upcoming information about Sunday's match.

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