For the first time in program history, the Siena Saints women's lacrosse team has started a season with three consecutive wins as the Green and Gold defeated Manhattan by a final score of 12-5 Sunday afternoon. It is also the first time since 2005 Siena has began their MAAC schedule with at least three straight wins.
 
In addition to the program accolades, senior Nicole McNeely joined the Siena Womens' Lacrosse 100 point club with her assist on Siena's opening goal of the game.
 
The Saints were led offensively by redshirt junior Kaitlyn Dowsett, as she scored four goals with two assists for a six-point day. Reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Mary Soures had another standout performance with four goals and an assist. Fifth-year Annie Brennan would also score twice, with senior Hayley Kmack also chipping in with a goal.
 
Manhattan had a pair of two-goal performances from Grace Lipponer and Meghan Rodino. Deb Peifer also added a goal and four draw controls for the Jaspers, while Ashley Gambardella made eight saves in net.
 
It didn't take long for McNeely to hit the 100-point plateau, as she worked an assist on the first goal of the game courtesy of Brennan to make it 1-0 Saints just four minutes into play. From there, both sides traded tallies to a 2-2 score. Kmack and Dowsett would extend out the lead the duo would score back-to-back free position goals to give Siena a 4-2 lead. After a Manhattan goal, Soures would score her second of the day and send Siena into the half with a 5-3 lead.
 
Soures would come out strong once again, scoring twice in the first five minutes of the second half. Manhattan also would score twice in the same time period, coming within a goal before Soures' second goal of the half gave Siena their two-goal lead back.
 
Dowsett would make it a three-goal game at the 20:38 mark, and the score would stay that way until the 6:03 mark. Soures would dish a ball to Brennan, who would finish for the goal. Dowsett would add the icing on the day, scoring the team's tenth and eleventh goals, while also adding an assist to McNeely in the final minute to complete her hat trick and more.
 
The Saints return to action next Friday, Mar. 19 as they head west to take on Niagara. Siena will play Niagara twice over the weekend, with Friday's first matchup beginning at 7 PM.