LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Soccer kicks off the program's 39^th varsity season when the Saints host Big East foe Seton Hall in their 2018 season opener at 3 p.m. at Siena Field. Siena boasts an impressive 6-2-2 record over its last 10 season openers overall, and has won three straight home openers.
 
Follow today's season opener by clicking on the live stats link at the top of the page. Continuous in-match pressbox updates will be provided via the women's soccer team's official twitter page @SienaWSoccer. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, and #MAACSoccer.
 
Siena commences its 19-match regular season schedule by playing four of its first six contests at home. The Saints conclude their season opening wrap-around weekend Monday when they host Hartford at 3 p.m. In all, Siena is slated to play nine regular season home matches in Loudonville where the Saints hold an impressive 64-20-10 (.734) record over the past 11 seasons which includes a stellar 33-6-2 (.829) mark in non-conference action.
 
Siena is looking to build off a strong 2017 campaign in which the Saints posted an 11-8 overall record. Siena finished tied for third in points in the MAAC Standings with a 6-4 league ledger, and advanced to the conference semifinals.
 
Projected to finish third according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Saints return eight starters this fall – headlined by 2017 leading scorer Gabby Albano and Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Tournament Team Goalkeeper Taylor Dorado – in addition to welcoming in the largest freshman class in program history featuring nine newcomers.
 
Siena's undoubted strength entering the season is its defense which returns all four starting backs, Dorado, and holding midfielder Olivia Stegner from a unit which achieved a miniscule 1.17 goals against average and ranked third in the MAAC with seven shutouts last fall. Senior back Amanda Holtzman was the Saints' lone representative on the Preseason All-MAAC Team after being named a First Team All-MAAC and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team honoree last season.
 
Siena and Seton Hall meet for the second time today, albeit the first time officially. The programs also matched up in last year's season opener in South Orange, however play was halted with the contest scoreless in the 46^th minute following an 80-minute weather delay. The Saints do however have some key history with the Big East Conference, both with current and former league members. During the Saints' storied MAAC Championship season of 2010, Siena defeated both former league member UCONN as well as Providence en route to a perfect 12-0 start, and later faced Georgetown in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Saints have only faced three current league members - Georgetown, Providence, and St. John's - amassing a 2-8 record with both wins coming against the Friars (2009, 2010).
 
Seton Hall is looking to improve upon last year's 0-12-5 record which included an 0-6-3 mark in the Big East. The Pirates were projected to finish 10^th (last) according to the Big East Preseason Coaches' Poll. Seton Hall went undefeated in two preseason exhibitions earlier this month, defeating Binghamton 1-0 and playing MAAC foe Rider to a scoreless draw.