LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Siena women's lacrosse team matched a mark set last season, collecting their fifth win of the season on Saturday afternoon in a 17-7 victory over the Iona Gaels at Hickey Field. That would tie their win total from just a year ago, with about half the season remaining.

The Saints are now winners of five of their last six games, and have scored in double digits in each of their last four wins. In their wins this season, they have outscored their opponents 68-25.

Siena (5-4, 1-0) was led by monster games from a trio of underclassmen, with sophomore Nicole McNeely leading the way with an eight point day with three goals and a career-high five assists. Classmate Kerry Gerety was not far behind, posting a seven point day with four goals and three assists. Redshirt freshman Kaitlyn Dowsett paced the offensive scoring with a team-high five goals in the game. Senior goalie Sammy Horton was a wall, making 14 saves in the game.

Iona (1-8, 0-1) was led by a two-goal day from Madi Kochanek, who also added an assist for a three-point day. Katherine Meyer, Megan Collins, Erin O'Donnell, Maureen Murphy, and Kati Paavola all scored as well for the Gaels. Goalie Shannon McCaffrey made five saves on the day, also grabbing a team-high four ground balls.

Siena broke the ice five minutes into the game, as Dowsett notched her first score of the game. Hayley Kmack and Gerety would follow with scores in the next five minutes, with all three goals assisted by McNeely. Dowsett and McNeely would spur another 3-0 run with under seven minutes to play in the first, extending the Green and Gold lead out to 8-2. McNeely would add another goal, pushing the Saints lead to 9-3 at the half.

The Saints built off McNeely's last score with another three goals to open the second half, as Annie Brennan, Gerety, and Dowsett all scored in the first two minutes to extend the lead out to 12-3. The Gaels first scored back-to-back goals in the second half at the 24:10 and the 18:11 mark, as Kochanek scored both of the goals. However, with 8:08 to play, the Saints grabbed a 10-goal lead, keeping that advantage despite trading goals with the Gaels in the final five minutes to take the 17-7 win.

The Green and Gold would outshoot the Gaels 28-23 on the game, and own the ground ball department 20-15. The Saints also topped the Gaels in draw controls 16-8, but did turn the ball over 15 times.

Siena returns to action this Wednesday, March 27 when they head west to Buffalo to take on Canisius. The opening draw will go up at 4 p.m.