LOUDONVILLE, NY – With a three-game win streak and a perfect MAAC record on the line, the Siena Saints struggled to find the twine on Saturday afternoon as they were defeated by the Manhattan Jaspers by a final score of 8-6.
 
Siena (6-5, 2-1) were led by a solid three-point game from sophomore Nicole McNeely, who scored a pair of goals and dished an assist. Freshman Mary Soures tossed home two goals as well, while redshirt freshman Kaitlyn Dowsett and junior Annie Brennan each scored as well in the contest. Senior goalie Sammy Horton made 10 saves in the loss.
 
Manhattan (8-3, 3-0) was topped by a three-point day from Grace Lipponer, as she scored twice and dished an assist. Molly Fitzpatrick would also score twice, while Caitlin Murphy, Cassidy Burns, Alaina Burgess, Carmella Liscio each scored once as well.
 
The Saints hopped out to the 1-0 lead on a goal from McNeely at the 17:39 mark, just over 12 minutes into the first half. But, Manhattan battled back and took a lead before a goal from Soures tied things at 2-2 with 7:31 to play in the first. That snowballed into a 4-0 Jaspers run that flowed into the beginning stages of the season half. Manhattan would hold a 4-2 lead at the half, and extend it out to a 6-2 lead by the 24:08 mark in the second.
 
The Green and Gold did not go quietly, running off three goals in just over a two-minute span from the 23:52 mark to the 21:36 mark on a goal by Dowsett to cut the Jasper lead down to just one. Just the team from Riverdale kept pace ahead of the Saints, scoring with both six and five minutes remaining to extend out their lead and hang on for victory.
 
The Jaspers topped the Saints in shots 32-26, while both teams tied at 26 all. The Jaspers held the slight advantage on the draw controls 8-7, but were a perfect 4-for-4 on free position shots.
 
The Saints return to the field on Wednesday, April 3 when they return to Hickey Field for a matchup against the Niagara Purple Eagles. Opening draw will go up at 3 p.m.