Oct. 21, 2011
Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - For Siena to have a chance to defend their MAAC Title, they are likely going to need to win out and receive a good bit of help. Despite greatly outplaying Canisius in a rematch of last year's MAAC Championship Game, the Saints had to settle for their second straight tie as the game finished in a 1-1 draw.
Siena (7-6-2, 2-3-2) badly needed three points today, but was only able to obtain just one. While the Saints currently stand just two points out of the final MAAC Tournament spot, they have only two games remaining and don't hold the tiebreakers with many of the teams they are battling with which have in some cases still have three or four conference games left to play.
For 110 minutes Siena dominated Canisius (8-6-2, 3-2-1), outshooting the Griffs 29-10. Lindsay Tegas (11 shots) alone out-shot Canisius, while Ashleigh Barone fired nine shots. But as if often the case in soccer, the stats don't always translate to the score.
For 79 minutes the game remained scoreless as Siena failed to cash in on many of its chances. But in the 80th minute, Barone broke through. She finished a pass from Tegas to put the Saints on top with just 10:51 remaining and give Siena what appeared would be enough for the win.
But Canisius' Kelly Reinwald, who entered the day one point ahead of Barone for fifth place on the MAAC's all-time scoring list, got her chance to answer moments later.
In the 84th minute Reinwald sent in a perfect cross from the right of the net that found the head of Adrianna Suk at the back post. Suk jumped just outside of the goal line and just inside the post and headed the ball in to tie the contest.
The game would go to overtime where Siena would out-shoot Canisius 8-0 in the first 10-minute session, but couldn't tally the game winner.
The second overtime was more evenly played, but Barone had a chance to win it in the final seconds. On a free kick about 15 yards outside of the box with seven seconds remaining, Barone's shot went just high over the net, ending a frustrating afternoon.
Siena, which had gone three years and 11 straight overtime games without a tie in which they went an impressive 9-2-0, has now posted two ties in the past five days.
While they failed to secure the win, the Saints' nonetheless ran their undefeated streak at home to 14 straight games (13-0-1).
In a game started by a pair of backup goalies, both team's keepers were very strong. Canisius' Megan Tock made eight saves, while the Saints' Taylor Booth had five stops.
Although there are just two games remaining in the regular season for the Saints, while there are still a number of mathematical possibilities still out there, the focus is singular. Siena will need to win its final two games - both of which are at home - against the conference's top two teams Niagara and Marist.
The Saints host the Purple Eagles in a monumentally important game Sunday at noon at Siena Field.
