LOUDONVILLE, NY – Reigning MAAC Tournament Champion Siena Women's Soccer commences its quest for a fourth title – including an unprecedented second in seventh months – when the fourth-seeded Saints host No. 5 seed Iona in the MAAC Quarterfinals Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hickey Field. The squads are set to meet for the fourth time in Loudonville in just the past seven months – including for the second straight time in the MAAC Quarterfinals – during an unprecedented 2021 calendar year.
Fans planning to attend Sunday's MAAC Quarterfinal at Hickey Field are strongly advised to secure tickets in advance through the league's HomeTown Ticketing platform by clicking the corresponding link. Tickets are priced at $10 for adults, and $5 for all others. Tickets will be delivered digitally, and no cash will be accepted on-site.
All fans planning to attend 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. All forms of tailgating are also currently prohibited at this time.
The new "Voice of the Saints"
Emmanuel Berbari and 2015 MAAC Tournament MVP Allison Clark '16 have the call of the match on ESPN+, which is accessible by clicking the corresponding link, on smartphones and tablets via the ESPN app, and on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Sticks, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox360, and Xbox One.
The winner of Sunday's quarterfinal will advance to the MAAC Semifinals Thursday, which will be hosted by the higher seeded team in the matchup. Following the conclusion Sunday's MAAC Quarterfinal matches, the tournament will be re-seeded with the two highest remaining seeds hosting semifinal contests vs. the two lowest advancing seeds.
Siena in the MAAC Championships (21st Appearance)
Record: 14-15-3 (.484)
Championships: 3 (2010, 2015, 2020-21)
In Loudonville: 3-0-2
At Hickey Field: 2-0-2
In the MAAC Quarterfinals: 5-4
As the No. 4 seed: 3-7-1
Vs. the No. 5 seed: 1-1
Vs. Iona: 2-1
Siena is making the program's 21
st MAAC Tournament appearance in its milestone 30
th season of MAAC competition, and eighth in the past nine seasons. The Saints have captured a total of three MAAC Tournament Championships, all of which have come over the past decade, and all of which were secured in five-year increments (2010, 2015, 2020-21).
The reigning MAAC Champions captured their most recent title less than seven months ago, as Siena is in search of making history as the only league program to win two titles in the same calendar year. The Saints successfully navigated an eighth place predicted finish, in-season COVID pause, five matches in 10 days, and numerous other obstacles to emerge as MAAC Champions for the third time this past spring, while also securing the program's first-ever MAAC Regular Season Championship. Siena won its first MAAC Tournament Championship as the No. 3 seed in 2010, before making history as the first – and to date only – No. 6 seed to claim their second title in 2015.
The Saints hold a 14-15-3 all-time record in MAAC Tournament matches, punctuated by an impressive recent run. Beginning with the program's 2010 Cinderella Season, the Saints have achieved a stellar 12-5-1 (.694) MAAC Tournament record over the past decade. Siena's 12 wins during that time are second only to Monmouth (14), and twice as many as the program with the next highest total (Rider – six). The Green and Gold have won at least one MAAC Tournament match in five of their past seven appearances. Prior to 2010, the Saints were just 2-10-2 spanning the program's first 12 MAAC Tournament matches over their first 18 seasons in the conference.
Siena holds an undefeated all-time record in MAAC Tournament matches contested in Loudonville, while advancing four times in five opportunities. The Saints are 3-0-2 overall in Loudonville, including 2-0-2 at Hickey Field. Siena drew Fairfield to a scoreless tie before falling 5-4 in penalty kicks in the 2008 MAAC Semifinals, and then secured their first home postseason victory with a 2-1 overtime triumph over Quinnipiac in the 2018 MAAC Semifinals at the program's predominant home on the adjacent grass field. Three of the Saints' five all-time home MAAC Tournament matches came during this past spring, with Siena posting victories over both Iona (3-0) and Rider (2-1), before prevailing 4-2 in PK's over Monmouth following a scoreless draw to secure the program's third MAAC Championship.
The Saints are 5-4 all-time in MAAC Quarterfinals matches, and have won four straight. Siena has advanced at least as far as the MAAC Semifinals in its past five appearances spanning the previous six seasons, and has outscored the opposition by a combined 7-1 margin during its four-match quarterfinal winning streak.
The Saints are set to play their 33
rd all-time MAAC Tournament match Sunday. For the 12
th time Siena is the No. 4 seed, as the Saints have played their most postseason matches with that seeding. Siena has had limited success as the four-seed, posting a 3-7-1 MAAC Tournament record. The Saints were last seeded fourth in 2017, defeating No. 5 Marist 1-0 in the MAAC Quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Monmouth 3-1 in the semis down in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Siena and Iona meet for the fourth time in MAAC Tournament action, including the second season in a row in the quarterfinals. The top-seeded Gaels defeated the Saints 3-2 in overtime in Siena's first-ever MAAC Tournament match in the 1992 North Division Semifinals. Siena has bounced back capturing the last two postseason matchups, 2-1 in a 6 vs. 3 upset in 2013 in Florida, and 3-0 in a 1 vs. 8 battle last spring in Loudonville.
The Series With Iona (40th Meeting: Siena leads, 25-12-2)
Siena and Iona meet for the milestone 40
th time – including the fourth occasion in the past seven months – as the Saints have played the Gaels more times than any other opponent. Siena has more than doubled up Iona in the all-time series, with their 25 victories over the Gaels tied for their most vs. any opponent (Saint Peter's – 25).
Siena has dominated the all-time series of late winning 10 straight over Iona – beginning with their 2013 MAAC Quarterfinals victory down in Florida – while outscoring the Gaels by a 26-7 margin over that time. Moreover, the Saints hold a 12-match unbeaten streak (10-0-2) over Iona in Loudonville, outscoring the Gaels 33-7 during that span. Iona has not defeated Siena in eight years since a 1-0 overtime triumph in New Rochelle on Oct. 19, 2013, and has not win in Loudonville in 21 years dating back to a 1-0 double overtime victory on Oct. 22, 2000.
The Saints and Gaels meet today for the fourth time in just seventh months and six days during an unprecedented 2021 calendar year. Siena has won the first three matchups, while outscoring Iona by a 12-2 margin.
Jayanna Monds (six points),
Annie Bagnall (five),
Carrie Krohn (five), and
Emily McNelis (five) have tied for the team lead with two-goals apiece against the Gaels during the three matchups between the squads this calendar year.
The Saints fended off Iona 3-2 in the regular season matchup between the teams this fall on Oct. 2 at Hickey Field. Siena led 2-0 at halftime and 3-1 late before the Gaels got a late tally to provide the final margin.
Rebecca Rolland (9'), Bagnall (30'), and
Ashleigh Sarafin (82') scored for the Saints, while Samantha Hogan (49') and Kiera Haggerty (88') tallied for Iona. The Gaels held a 16-13 edge in shots, while Siena harbored a 6-3 margin in corners. Both
Brooke Boermeester and Emma Havrilla made four saves apiece.
Scouting Siena (8-9-1)
The defending MAAC Champions enter postseason action looking to bounce back from a pair of 1-0 shutout defeats away from home to close out the regular season. Predicted to finish third according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and, in a three-way tie for second entering the final day of the regular season, the Saints finished in a tie for fourth in the standings with Iona. Siena secured the higher seed – and the all-important home-field advantage for the quarterfinal matchup – by virtue of winning the regular season meeting between the teams.
The Saints have navigated through a see-saw season. Following a pair of wins to open the fall, Siena dropped five straight. The Saints won five of six beginning with their victory over Iona, before dropping their final two regular season contests. Siena was much better on weekends during conference action, posting a 4-1 mark on MAAC Saturdays as opposed to just a 2-3 record in Wednesday league matches.
The Saints are looking to reignite an offense coming off consecutive shutouts which has failed to score in each of the team's last three defeats. Offensively, Siena has been led by a pair of senior captains in McNelis and Krohn. The reigning MAAC Tournament MVP and a Preseason All-MAAC selection, the midfielder McNelis has paced the team in scoring for the second straight season. She ranks tied for ninth in the MAAC with 14 points on the strength of five goals – including a pair of game-winners – and four assists. Krohn is also in double figures with 11 points, thanks in large part of her seven assists – which is tied for fourth most in the MAAC – and two short of tying the program single-season record. Overall, eight different Saints have registered two or more goals this fall as part of a balanced attack.
Defensively, Siena has been led by the two-headed monster in goal of
Leslie Adams and Boermeester. The duo has each made nine starts, while posting similarly strong numbers. The reigning MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Adams was a Preseason All-MAAC selection. Boermeester has twice been named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week this fall, while posting a 5-3-1 overall record between the pipes. The Saints are anchored defensively by Preseason All-MAAC selection and reigning MAAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year
Brianna Montinard, who has put together another outstanding season at center back. Siena's defense has greatly improved as the season has worn on, as the Saints have allowed just six total goals spanning their past seven matches, while allowing more than one goal just once during that time.
Siena is led by the steady hand of veteran head coach
Steve Karbowski. Now in his 23
rd season at the helm of his alma mater, the three-time MAAC Coach of the Year has guided the program to all three of its MAAC Championships. Karbowski became the first head coach in league history to amass 100 career MAAC Regular Seasons wins in 2019, and secured his milestone 200
th overall head coaching victory on Oct. 9 at Marist. In his first two-plus decades at the helm, Karbowski has guided the Saints to 16 MAAC Tournament appearances, 10 seasons of 10 or more wins, and .500 or better overall records in 15 of the past 19 years.
Scouting Iona (11-7)
Iona enters postseason play as the hottest team in the MAAC having won six straight. The Gaels have allowed just a penalty kick goal during that time, while outscoring their opponents by a 10-1 margin. Upstart Iona, predicted to finish 10
th out of 11 teams according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, secured its highest MAAC Tournament seeding (fifth) since earning the No. 3 seed in 2013.
The Gaels started 1-4 in MAAC play before winning their final five conference matches to lock up their second straight postseason berth. Iona's 11 wins are the program's most in 29 years, dating back to the program's only MAAC Championship in 1992 when they won a program-record 12 matches. The Gaels had only won a combined 11 matches total the previous three seasons prior to this fall.
Offensively, Iona is 9-0 when scoring first this season. Faith Preziosi leads the team with 14 points, while Kiera Haggerty and two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Kedarjah Lewis have 12 points apiece. Five players have scored three goals or more. Defensively, two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week Emma Havrilla has tied the program single-season record with eight shutouts, including five in her last six matches. The Gaels had allowed a total of 27 goals over their first 12 matches – an average of 2.25 per match – before their current stretch where they've bequeathed just one (on a penalty kick) over the last six contests.
Iona won the league's first-ever MAAC Women's Soccer Championship in 1992, but has not won a MAAC Tournament game since in posting an 0-9-1 record while being outscored by a 28-3 margin. The Gaels have advanced once however since 1992, prevailing 5-4 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie with Fairfield in the First Round of the 2017 MAAC Tournament in Florida.
