LOUDONVILLE, NY - Siena Women's Soccer hosts Iona for the third time in sixth months when the Saints battle the Gaels at Hickey Field once again Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN3. Siena defeated Iona twice last spring - capped by a MAAC Quarterfinals victory - en route to capturing the program's third MAAC Championship.
Siena (3-6-1, 1-1) looks to even its MAAC record and bounce back from a heartbreaking, last-minute 3-2 loss at Fairfield Wednesday night, in which the Stags scored the game-winning goal with just 92 seconds remaining in regulation.
Julianna Kissane and
Emily McNelis scored on two of the Saints' first three shots in the match, but fell short as their six-match MAAC Regular Season unbeaten streak was snapped. The defeat was Siena's first in conference action since the 2019 season finale. McNelis, who led Siena in scoring while earning All-MAAC and MAAC Tournament MVP honors this past spring, once again tops the team this fall with eight points on the strength of three goals and a pair of assists.
Projected to finish 10th of 11 teams according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Iona (5-5, 1-2) is already only two wins shy of its 2019 total, which marked the program's most victories since 2009 (eight). The Gaels had won three of four - with their only defeat a double overtime setback at MAAC preseason favorite Monmouth - prior to a 1-0 defeat vs. Manhattan Wednesday. A quartet of Iona players are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece.
Siena is in search of its third victory over Iona this year - and ninth straight - in a series which the Saints have doubled up the Gaels 24-12-2 overall. Siena has played Iona more times (38) than any other opponent, with their 24 wins over the Gaels marking the program's second most vs. any one team (Saint Peter's - 25). The Saints have outscored Iona 23-5 during their nine-match winning streak, with the Gaels in search of their first victory in the series since a 1-0 overtime triumph in New Rochelle on Oct. 19, 2013. Additionally, Siena is unbeaten in its last 11 home matches vs. Iona (9-0-2), while outscoring the Gaels by a 30-5 margin. Iona's last win in Loudonville came on Oct. 22, 2000, 1-0 in double overtime.
The Saints shutout the Gaels by a combined 9-0 margin during the spring. Siena won its de facto season opener 6-0 over Iona on Mar. 25 at Hickey Field, erupting for five first half goals – including three scores in the opening nine minutes – to cruise to the most lopsided season-opening win in program history. The six total goals scored also marked the Saints' most in six years since a 7-0 home triumph over Saint Peter's on Sept. 19, 2015. Siena then followed that up with a 3-0 win over the Gaels in the MAAC Quarterfinals on Apr. 9 in Loudonville. McNelis,
Carrie Krohn, and
Jayanna Monds each scored twice in accounting for six of Siena's nine goals vs. Iona this spring.
Kelly O'Donnell and
Joe Mixie have the call of the match on ESPN3, which is available by clicking the corresponding link, on smartphones and tablets via the ESPN app, and on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox360, and Xbox One. Saturday's match marks the second of four Siena Women's Soccer home matches scheduled to be broadcast this fall on the ESPN Family of Networks, with future matchups vs. Niagara (Oct. 13) and Quinnipiac (Oct. 16) set to air on either ESPN3 or ESPN+ (channel designation to be determined). Overall, eight of Siena Women's Soccer nine home matches are scheduled to be broadcast this fall, with non-ESPN contests streamed via Siena All-Access.
Fans wishing to attend any Siena Athletics games held on campus are required to adhere to the Siena Athletics Spectator Policy. All spectators are required to complete the Siena Athletics Spectator Screening Form at
sienasaints.com/spectatorregistration, and receive clearance to attend, prior to their arrival on campus. All spectators must be vaccinated to be able to attend, and are required to bring proof of vaccination with them to campus. Unvaccinated children 12 and under must remain masked at all times. Spectators are requested to enter campus via Route 9 through the College's main gate on Loudon Road and check in at the Welcome Booth. All forms of tailgating are also currently prohibited at this time. This policy is guided by the alert level established by Siena College's COVID-19 Operations Team and is subject to change based on current conditions. Siena College and the athletic department will continue to monitor developments and alert spectators of any adjustments made to this policy.
