LOUDONVILLE, NY - Siena Women's Soccer once again has the honors of kicking off the College's 2019-20 home slate when the Saints host UMass in their home opener at 4 p.m. at Siena Field. The match will be streamed on Facebook Live via the team's page.
A.J. Kanell has the call of the home opener on Facebook Live, which can be viewed free of charge by clicking the corresponding link. Live stats and pressbox twitter updates will also be provided via the links at the top of the page.
Siena (0-4) returns home to the friendly confines of Siena Field for their first action of 2019 following a challenging season opening four-match road trip, which included a pair of contests in Colorado and a trip to ACC foe Syracuse. The Saints' four-match road trip to kick off the season equaled the program's longest road trip ever to open a season (1995), and lengthiest road trip overall since playing five straight away from home in 2000. Now Siena returns to the Capital Region where they've thrived at home over the past dozen years. The Saints boast an impressive 70-22-12 (.731) record at Siena Field, which includes a stellar 36-8-2 (.804) mark in non-conference action over the past 12 years. Additionally, the Green and Gold have won their past four home openers.
Siena is looking to build off a highly successful 2018 campaign which saw the Saints advance to the MAAC Championship Match for the fifth time in program history. Siena returns eight of 11 starters, more than 80% of its goal scoring, and 2018 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year
Taylor Dorado from last year's squad which achieved an 11-8-3 overall record and finished third in the MAAC with a 6-2-2 league ledger. The Saints also welcome five true freshmen to the 2019 squad, which was projected to finish third according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Siena embarks upon its 2019 campaign following back-to-back 11-win seasons, and has achieved a .500 or better record in each of the past six years. The Saints finished last season strong, winning eight of their final 10 matches highlighted by a pair of separate four-match winning streaks thanks in large part to a stout defense. Siena set a new program single-season record with 10 shutouts, punctuated by a school-best shutout streak of 513:27. The Saints return nearly all of their backline intact with senior defenders
Madi Belvito,
Hanna Longendyke, and
Haleigh Schanz in front of Dorado in goal.
UMass (2-1-1) is off to a strong start, boasting victories over ACC foe Pittsburgh and Big East opponent Providence. The Minutewomen also tied UMass Lowell 2-2, whom the Saints defeated 3-2 in a preseason matchup. UMass was predicted to finish fifth in the 14-team Atlantic 10 after posting an 11-6-1 overall record including a 6-3-1 mark in league action.
Siena has captured two of the first three meetings between the programs, highlighted by a thrilling, last-second 2-1 triumph last Aug. 24 in Amherst.
Jayanna Monds knotted the score in the 72nd minute, and
Meghan Riccardi scored the game-winner for Siena with just 14 seconds remaining.
