LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Men's Soccer (2-0) battled back from an early deficit to advance to 2-0 for the first time in eight seasons in its home opener Monday afternoon. The Saints used a late goal to earn a 2-1 victory over UMass Lowell (1-1) at Hickey Field and secure a win in each of its first two matches for only the fourth time in its varsity history.
The win did not come without an individual milestone, with graduate student goalkeeper Greg Monroe recording his 22nd career victory in-net to surpass Brett Boskiewicz (1991-94) for the most wins by a keeper in program history. The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Week collected five saves, and remains second all-time in career shutouts, matches played, and minutes played, as well as fifth in saves.
Looking to avenge a 1-0 overtime loss from last season, Siena had to battle back into contention after the River Hawks quickly pulled out to a lead. A turnover in Siena's defensive zone allowed UMass Lowell's Viljar Byrkjeland to push a ball into the Siena goal with just one minute and 42 seconds off the clock. The visitors would out-shoot the Saints, 10-6, during the first half of play, but Siena eventually evened the pace of play and the scoreboard by intermission.
The Saints' first strike of the afternoon came off the head of sophomore Zach Gardner, who found the back of the net for the first time this season with help from freshman Magnus Saaby and classmate Jesper Schone Vogtengen. The even score would lead to Siena holding a 14-4 shots advantage in the second half and recording all four of its corner kick opportunities in the final 45 minutes of play.
Following multiple close calls that amounted to eight second-half UMass Lowell saves, the Saints secured victory in the 83rd minute of play, with sophomore Thomas Storodegard playing a ball from junior Cole Hellert into the top left corner of the box and finishing with a strike for his first goal of the year.
The physical affair featured six combined yellow cards and 25 combined fouls, as the teams battled 90-degree temperatures on the turf. Seven different Siena players fired off a shot, with Storodegard and junior Bilal Hersi leading the way with four apiece.
After emerging victorious in a home opener for the third straight season under third-year head coach Graciano Brito, Siena for its next two and four of its next six matches in non-conference play. The Saints will head east for their first-ever matchup with Providence (0-1-1) – who was ranked 16th nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll – on Friday, September 2, with kickoff in the Ocean State set for 7 PM.
