Siena Soccer kicks off its 45^th season with the program's first-ever trip to Texas for the HBU Invitational this weekend. The Saints begin their 2018 campaign vs. Tournament host Houston Baptist Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time).
 
Follow the Saints' season opener by clicking on the corresponding links at the top of the page. The match will be streamed live via Houston Baptist University's YouTube page. Continuous updates will also be provided throughout the day via the men's soccer team's official Twitter page @SienaSoccer. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, #MAACSoccer, and #NCAASoccer.
 
Siena sports a 6-4 record in its last 10 season openers overall, however the Saints have dropped three consecutive road openers. Siena is making just its third-ever trip west of the Mississippi (2014, 2017), all of which have been coordinated during head coach Cesar Markovic's tenure. The Saints also opened last season west of the Mississippi, with contests in California vs. Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara.
 
In addition to playing the program's first-ever matches in the State of Texas this weekend, Siena is also set to face its first two opponents who hail from the Lone Star State. Following a tie for the earliest-ever season opener in program history (2012) Friday night, the Saints conclude Tournament play Sunday vs. a second Western Athletic Conference program from Texas in UT Rio Grande Valley Sunday at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT).
 
Siena is looking to build off last season's 4-7-7 overall record which included a 2-4-4 mark in the MAAC. The Saints were projected to finish ninth out of 11 teams according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, after finishing in eighth place last fall.
 
Headlining Siena's returnees is last year's leading scorer in sophomore striker Alejandro Riquelme, who was named the 2017-18 Siena College Male Rookie of the Year in addition to being tabbed a Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree. Siena's young squad features just two seniors, while the roster includes nine freshmen of which six are true freshmen. Overall, the Saints welcome eight newcomers to the program this fall, including junior college transfers Eddie Dakwa and Tim Ugo. Siena's season opening trip will serve as a homecoming for the duo, who were teammates for the past two seasons at Hill College in Texas, while Ugo also hails from Duncanville, Texas.
 
Following their opening weekend trip to Texas, the Saints conclude a season opening three-match road swing and the month of August at Holy Cross (Aug. 31). Siena then kicks off September with a season-long four-match homestand, marking the program's longest in 11 years since playing six straight in Loudonville in 2007. The Saints' home opener is set for Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. vs. Lafayette. Siena is also slated to host Stony Brook (Sept. 8), Army West Point (Sept. 11), and Sacred Heart (Sept. 15) during the homestand.
 
Houston Baptist is projected to finish 11^th (12 teams) according to the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. HBU dropped each of its final five matches to close out its 2017 campaign and finish with a 5-10 overall record including a 2-8 mark in the WAC. The Huskies however won both of their preseason exhibitions earlier this month, defeating St. Thomas (1-0) and Dallas Baptist (2-1).
 
Meanwhile UT Rio Grande Valley was picked eighth in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. UTRGV posted an even 7-7-3 overall record last season including a 4-4-2 ledger in the WAC. The young squad – which features 12 newcomers – played Texas A&M International to a scoreless draw in its preseason opener before defeating St. Edward's 4-0 in its final exhibition.