Final Stats

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Tessa Chad scored with 39.1 seconds remaining in overtime as defending MAAC Regular Season Champion and preseason favorite Canisius edged Siena Women's Lacrosse 12-11 at Siena Turf Field. Senior captain Sarah Croutier scored six points for the Saints which played to their sixth one-goal game of the season and fifth in their past six contests.

Canisius (7-5, 4-0) scored the final three goals of the game to rally past Siena (7-7, 2-3) which had claimed an 11-9 advantage following an Ashley Ruchalski tally with 10:42 remaining in regulation. In what was a tight battle throughout, neither team led by more than two goals at any juncture.

Allie Stewart scored with 7:41 remaining to pull the Golden Griffins within a score and MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and reigning MAAC Rookie and Midfielder of the Year Erica Evans netted the equalizer with 2:17 to play to send the game to overtime. Evans finished with eight points (five goals) and added five draw controls, four groundballs and four caused turnovers.

Late in the extra session following a quick restart near midfield, Evans sprinted into the offensive zone and found a driving Chad for the game-winner to send Canisius to their fifth straight win. Chad finished with a pair of goals for the perennial MAAC power Golden Griffins which have won the conference tournament title in four of the previous five years.

The MAAC's leading goal scorer, Croutier found the back of the net four more times for the Saints in registering her ninth consecutive multi-goal performance. Both she and fellow captain Cara McQuillan each scored twice in the final minute of the first half to pull Siena even at 7-7 at intermission. McQuillan finished with a pair of goals as did Lauren Anglim.

Siena ultimately spanned both halves with a 6-2 run to take a 10-8 lead on a Briana Sirianni score with 21:16 left in the second half. But the Saints would only score once more the rest of the way in suffering the hard fought defeat.

Canisius out-shot the Saints 30-16, but Siena goalie Samantha Horton made 11 saves. The freshman was especially impressive on free-position shots, smothering four of the Golden Griffins' five eight-meter targets.

Taylor Giglio added three points for Canisius which has captured the past 11 meetings between the programs.

The Saints return to action Saturday when they head to Iona for a 1 p.m. draw.