Reigning MAAC Tournament Champion Siena Women's Soccer looks to return to the conference final when the fourth seeded Saints battle No. 2 seed Quinnipiac in the MAAC Semifinals Thursday at 2 p.m. in Hamden, Connecticut on ESPN+. The Saints are in search of the program's third trip to the MAAC Championship Match in four seasons, and seventh overall.  
 
Fans planning to attend the match at Quinnipiac 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.
 
The winner of Thursday's semifinal will advance to the MAAC Championship Match Sunday, which will be hosted by the highest seeded team. Top-seed and MAAC Regular Season Champion Monmouth hosts No. 6 seed Fairfield in Thursday's other semifinal contest at 6 p.m.
 
Siena in the MAAC Championships (21^st Appearance)
Record: 15-15-3 (.500)
Championships: 3 (2010, 2015, 2020-21)
On The Road: 3-3-1
In the MAAC Semifinals: 6-7-2
As the No. 4 seed: 4-7-1
Vs. the No. 2 seed: 2-3-1
Vs. Quinnipiac: 1-1
 
Siena is in the midst of 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 now hold an even 15-15-3 all-time record in MAAC Tournament matches thanks to an impressive recent run. Beginning with the program's 2010 Cinderella Season, the Saints have achieved a stellar 13-5-1 (.711) MAAC Tournament record over the past decade. Siena's 13 wins during that time are second only to Monmouth (15), and more than twice as many as the program with the next highest total (Rider – six). With Sunday's 2-0 MAAC Quarterfinal triumph over Iona, the Green and Gold have now won at least one MAAC Tournament match in six of their past eight postseason 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 is also an even 3-3-1 all-time in true MAAC Tournament road matches. The Saints had won three straight following an 0-2-1 start, before dropping their most recent true MAAC Tournament road match in the 2018 title bout at Monmouth.
 
Siena has played more matches in the MAAC Semifinals than any other round of the tournament. The Saints are 6-7-2 in MAAC Semifinals matches, and are making the program's sixth semifinal appearance over the past seven seasons. Siena is looking to advance to the MAAC Championship Match for a seventh time (1996, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2020-21), including the third time in the past four seasons. Only former MAAC member Loyola (18) and Fairfield (11) have appeared in more MAAC Championship Matches than the Saints.
 
Siena is set to play its 34^th all-time MAAC Tournament match Thursday. For the 13^th time the Saints are the No. 4 seed, as Siena has played their most postseason matches with that seeding. The Saints have had moderate success as the four-seed, posting a 5-7-1 MAAC Tournament record. Prior to this season, Siena was 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.
 
The Saints are 2-3-1 all-time against MAAC Tournament No. 2 seeds. Siena has won each of its past two contests vs. a No. 2 seed, emerging 2-0 as the three-seed at Marist in the 2018 MAAC Semifinals, and defeating Manhattan 5-2 as the No. 6 seed in the 2015 MAAC Championship Match.
 
Siena and Quinnipiac meet in the rubber match of their MAAC Tournament history, as the programs have split their first two encounters since the Bobcats joined the conference in 2013. Fourth-seeded Quinnipiac edged No. 2 Siena 1-0 in the 2016 MAAC Semifinals held at Monmouth, with the third-seeded Saints earning revenge with a 2-1 overtime triumph over the sixth-seeded Bobcats in the 2018 MAAC Quarterfinals in Loudonville. Current senior captain and then freshman Emily McNelis scored both goals in the 2018 overtime victory.
 
The Series With Quinnipiac (18^th Meeting: Siena leads, 9-6-2)
Siena and Quinnipiac meet for the 18^th time, 11 of which have come since the Bobcats joined the MAAC in 2013. The Saints lead the all-time series 9-6-2, including a 5-3-2 advantage as league foes. Siena has dropped two straight however in Hamden, last winning 2-0 in the regular season finale on Oct. 28, 2015.
 
The Saints captured the regular season meeting between the programs, prevailing 1-0 on Senior Day on Oct. 16 in Loudonville. McNelis scored her third career goal vs. Quinnipiac – including her second game-winner – tallying the decisive score just 5:37 into the match. The Bobcats had their best opportunity to tie in the 14^th minute, but Selena Salas' penalty kick hit the post. Siena held the potent Quinnipiac offense – which entered play ranked 21^st nationally in scoring (2.67) – to just eight total shots including none on target in the shutout victory.
 
Scouting Siena (9-9-1)
The defending MAAC Champions are in search of the program's first double digit win season since 2018, which would be accomplished with a victory today. Siena bounced back from a pair of 1-0 shutout defeats away from home to close out the regular season, posting a 2-0 triumph over fifth-seeded Iona in the MAAC Quarterfinals Sunday at Hickey Field. Senior captain Carrie Krohn scored a pair of first half goals for the Saints who won their fifth straight MAAC Quarterfinal.
 
Predicted to finish third according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the defending MAAC Champions ultimately finished tied for fourth after successfully navigating a see-saw season. Following a pair of wins to open the fall, Siena dropped five straight. The Saints then won five of six to open October and pulled into a three-way tie for second in the MAAC Standings, before dropping their final two regular season contests stemming from shutout defeats on the road. Including postseason play, the Saints have been much better in MAAC weekend matches, achieving a 5-1 record as opposed to just a 2-3 mark in conference weekday tilts.
 
Offensively, Siena has been paced by the senior captains McNelis and Krohn who have tallied 15 points apiece. On Monday, McNelis became just the second primary midfielder in program history (Michele Tremblay – 2016, 2017)) to be named to the MAAC's top team multiple times. The reigning MAAC Tournament MVP has either tied for or led the team outright in scoring in three of her four seasons. McNelis was the only member of the Saints to be named to an All-MAAC Team. Krohn meanwhile ranks tied for fourth in the MAAC with seven assists, which is just two shy 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 Brooke Boermeester, who have made nine and ten starts between the pipes, respectively. 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, and has posted a 6-3-1 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 eight 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 16 of the past 19 years.
 
Scouting Quinnipiac (13-4)
Quinnipiac enters today's match having won three straight – outscoring their opponents by an 8-0 margin – and eight of their last 10 overall. The Bobcats had won five straight on the strength of a 14-1 scoring differential prior to their Oct. 16 loss at Siena. Quinnipiac's 13 overall wins are tied for the program's most in 22 years since posting 16 victories during their 1999 season.
 
The Bobcats advanced to the MAAC Semifinals following a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over seventh-seeded Marist Sunday on a 67^th minute score from Gretchen Kron. With the victory, Quinnipiac improved to 8-1 at home while outscoring their opposition 24-3 this fall in Hamden.
 
The Bobcats are buoyed by a potent offense and an equally effective defense. Quinnipiac ranks 22^nd nationally in scoring offense (2.41), only to be outdone by a defense which stands 18^th in the nation with a 0.64 team goals against average. The Bobcats offense however has been the beneficiary of a whopping 10 penalty kicks, with Salas finishing seven of 10 attempts. Thanks in large part to her penalty kick prowess, Salas ranks second in the MAAC and 24^th nationally in scoring with 29 points, with her 13 assists standing fifth most in the country. Salas was named a First Team All-MAAC selection along with Rebecca Cooke, while Markela Bejleri and Sofia Lospinoso both claimed Second Team honors. Lospinoso, who put a stranglehold on the starting goalkeeper position down the stretch, leads the nation with a 0.40 goals against average.
 
Quinnipiac is looking to advance to the MAAC Final for the second time after losing 5-2 to Monmouth in their first trip in 2016. That season, the fourth seeded Bobcats defeated No. 2 seed Siena, a feat the Saints are looking to return the favor on today. Quinnipiac is an even 6-6 all-time in the MAAC Tournament, but has dropped three straight semifinal matchups dating back to that 2016 win over the Saints.