Siena Men's Lacrosse looks to make it's first appearance in the MAAC Championship game since 2014, as the fourth-seeded Saints battle top-seeded St. Bonaventure in the MAAC Semifinals Thursday at 4 p.m. in Poughkeepsie, New York from the campus of Marist College on ESPN+. The Saints are in search of the program's seventh trip to the MAAC Championship match overall.
Fans planning to attend the game at Marist 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 Game Saturday at Tenney Stadium as well. The second-seed and host Marist Red Foxes hosts No. 3 seed Manhattan in Thursday's other semifinal contest at 7 p.m.
The Saints begin the program's ninth MAAC Tournament appearance, marking back-to-back appearances with last year's matchup against Monmouth. The Saints have captured three MAAC Championships in program history, with the latest coming in 2014. Siena's other two championships came in both 2009 and 2011.
The Saints now hold an impressive 9-5 mark in MAAC Tournament matchups, including a 6-1 mark in the semifinal round. Siena has never played as the No. 4 seed in the tournament, nor have they faced another No. 1 seed. This will also be the first matchup in the tournament between the Saints and Bonnies.
The Series With St. Bonaventure (Seventh Meeting, 3-3 record)
Siena and St. Bonaventure meet for the seventh time, with this the fourth matchup since the Bonnies joined the MAAC in 2019. The all-time series is tied at three wins apiece, with Siena owning a 2-1 record as league foes. The Saints captured the latest win earlier this season by a final score of 14-11 in comeback fashion.
Scouting Siena (6-8, 3-3 MAAC)
The Green and Gold enter the championships with a three game winning streak, and have won four of their last five games. Predicted to finish seventh in the league this season, the Saints have outplayed expectation after going through a low through the start of the season.
Pacing the Siena offense has been senior
Jack Kiernan and freshman
Pratt Reynolds. Currently leading the team in points (42), Kiernan stands among the league's best attackers. He earned All-MAAC First Team honors, sitting at 29 goals on the season. Sitting first on the team in goals is Reynolds, who was named MAAC Rookie of the Year and All-MAAC Second Team Attack. Reynolds sits fifth in the league in goals per game (2.21), and Kiernan eighth (2.07). Also look out for senior
Christian Watts, who also sits ninth in the MAAC in goals per game at 2.07 with Kiernan.
Defensively, Siena has been blessed with one of the country's top goaltenders in senior
Christopher Yanchoris. The Sykesville native ranks second in the MAAC in save percentage (.584), and saves per game (14.43). Both are also ranked nationally in the top five, as he was recognized as such with an All-MAAC Second Team selection. Sophomore
Trevor Marsala is the standout in front of Yanchoris on the backline, as he earned All-MAAC Second Team honors this past week.
Also earning All-MAAC honors for the Saints was graduate student
Nick Pepe, who was named an All-MAAC Second Team selection as Short Stick Midfielder – a first in his collegiate career. With a win, head coach
Liam Gleason would earn his first postseason victory as a head coach at Siena – and in his career.
Scouting St. Bonaventure (10-3, 5-1 MAAC)
St. Bonaventure enters the game coming off a victory over Canisius to clinch the program's first MAAC regular season title at the Division I level. The Bonnies were originally selected fifth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Bonnies led the MAAC during the regular season in scoring offense (10.92 goals/game), scoring defense (8.92 goals allowed/game) and scoring margin (+2.0). Lots of the Bonnies offensive success has been thanks to Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Sean Westley. Westley collected 51 total points on 29 goals and 22 assists this season.
St. Bonaventure has played at the Division I level for just four seasons. The Bonnies have now reached the MAAC semifinals in each of the past two years, though. St. Bonaventure's defense ranks fourth nationally in goals allowed per game, surrendering just under nine goals per contest. Only Georgetown (8.0), Jacksonville (8.7) and Vermont (8.8) rank ahead of the Bonnies.
Nine Bonnies were named to the All-Conference teams on Wednesday, most of any team in the MAAC this season and the most in program history. St. Bonaventure has 20 four-year members of the program on its roster. Each of those players were with the Bonnies from their first practice at the Division I level in August 2018.
