Final Stats | Photo Gallery

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - For the first time in the program's 19-season history, Siena Women's Lacrosse will play a home postseason game. The Saints held off a late rally from Niagara to defeat the Purple Eagles 10-9 at Siena Turf Field and clinch the No. 4 seed in the MAAC Championships.

The Saints will host fifth seeded Marist in a quarterfinal matchup Saturday at 3 p.m. at Siena Turf Field. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children age 12 and under and FREE for Siena and Marist students with valid college ID. Discounted group tickets are also available by calling the Siena Fan Relations Center at (518) 487-2202.

Junior captain Lauren Smith and senior attack Alyssa Treanor each netted hat tricks for the Saints (10-7, 5-3) which enter the MAAC Tournament riding a four-game winning streak.

Grace Hunt led all scorers with four points off the bench for Niagara (6-11, 3-5) which will make its first MAAC Tournament appearance in 12 years as the No. 6 seed when the Purple Eagles travel to the Jersey Shore to face third seeded Monmouth in the other quarterfinal Saturday.

Siena scored six straight goals spanning 8:01 early in the first half to claim the lead for good at 7-2 with 15:15 remaining in the stanza. The Saints ultimately took a 9-4 lead at the break as senior midfielder Erin Mossop just beat the first half buzzer with her first of two goals.

But Niagara limited the Saints' offense in the second half. Siena, which attempted 20 first half shots, was held to just one goal on nine shots over the final 30 minutes. As a result, the Purple Eagles chipped away and rallied to within 10-9 on Hunt's second score with 9:43 remaining.

However the score would finish as just that as Siena buckled down late and held possession for the final 2:11 to run out the clock and reach double figures in wins for just the second time in program history.

The hat trick was the third straight for Smith, who scored all of her goals during the Saints' six-goal first half run. She added four draw controls and a season-high five groundballs. Mossop, who scored the game-winning goal, tied a season-high with six draw controls for the Saints which held a 13-7 advantage on the draw.

Molly Gray and Erin Patenaude added two goals apiece for Niagara, but the Saints shutdown the Purple Eagles' top scoring threat Carrie-Jo Farrugia in limiting her to just an assist.

Siena now prepares to play its first-ever postseason home game as the Saints make their sixth MAAC Tournament appearance and fifth in the past six seasons Saturday against Marist. Siena won the regular season meeting between the teams 9-8 in Poughkeepsie just last Wednesday.