NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Both Siena Men's Soccer and Niagara embraced the win-or-go-home mentality Sunday evening, taking their MAAC Quarterfinal match into penalty kicks as part of an intense postseason affair at Niagara Field. After playing to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes, the No. 4 seeded Purple Eagles (5-8-6, 4-2-4) prevailed, 4-3, in penalty kicks over the No. 5 seeded Saints (8-5-6, 4-2-4).
After securing a postseason berth for the third straight year, Siena found itself down on the road in the opening minutes in action, with Niagara's Rodrigo Almeida finding the back of the net for the home team in the third minute of play. After being out-shot, 10-4, in the first half, Siena's offense came alive in the final 45 minutes, out-shooting Niagara, 9-4, and recording the first six shots of the period. The Saints also drew six of seven total corner kick opportunities on the evening.
In just his third game back from injury, freshman midfielder Magnus Saaby used his first collegiate goal to knot the match late in the second half, going top shelf following passes inside the box from sophomore Erik Reis and junior Cole Hellert in the 80th minute. Niagara took five of seven shot attempts between two ten-minute overtime periods, but tough play from both goalkeepers sent the Saints to their first penalty shootout since 2016.
Both teams successfully converted each of their first three penalty attempts, with Saaby, Reis, and sophomore Henrik Winkelmann keeping the Saints – who shot second – at bay. Following an unsuccessful round for both teams, Niagara ended the stalemate after converting their opening kick of the fifth round and getting a stop from freshman keeper Jamie Barry, which sent it to a MAAC Semifinal date at Regular Season Champion Quinnipiac on Thursday, November 10.
Siena's season ended after compiling back-to-back eight-win seasons for the first time since 2014-16. Graduate student goalkeeper Greg Monroe compiled five saves in his 81st and final match as a Saint, with the Clifton Park, New York native leaving the program as its all-time leader in goalkeeper wins, minutes, matches played, shutouts, and saves. Siena's 18 different point scorers on the year were the most in a single season since 2002.
Despite the season coming to an end for the Saints, there is the potential for positive news to end the season. The MAAC is set to announce the full slate of 2022 postseason awards on Monday, November 7 at 10 AM.
