LOUDONVILLE, NY – A summer of training preceded by a spring of uncertainty paid off in the form of season-opening success for Siena Men's Soccer (1-0-0) Thursday evening. The Saints netted a pair of first-half goals to down non-conference foe Sacred Heart (0-1-0) in their first match of the Fall 2021 campaign at Hickey Field.
 
Along with snapping a three-match losing skid that ended the previous campaign, the Green and Gold extended their unbeaten streak at home to five matches (3-0-2) dating back to late 2019, and locked up their first victory in a season opener since 2016. Siena also extended its unbeaten streak over the Pioneers to seven.
 
After kicking off its latest home start (5:00 PM)) since September 2007, Siena wasted little time in getting on the board, with fifth year defender Jacob Pacheco heading a ball in off a right side corner kick feed from freshman Jacob Arachchige-Jensen in the ninth minute of play. The early score led the way for the Saints to hold 11-9 shots and 7-4 corner kicks advantages down the stretch.
 
Youthful talent continued to aid the Saints in the first half, with the lead extended to two thanks to newcomer Frederic Storodegard's right-side strike from five yards out in the 32^nd minute. Sacred Heart answered with an unassisted goal from Will Pearce in the 38^th minute, with the Saints controlled possession throughout the second half en-route to victory. Senior goalkeeper Greg Monroe made one save in his 52^nd career appearance in-between-the-pipes for Siena.
 
The Green and Golf will next continue non-conference play in search of their first 2-0 start to a season since 2014. The Saints and UMass Lowell are set to face off for the first time ever on Monday, August 30 at 2 PM in Lowell, MA, beginning a two-match road trip to round out play in the month of August.