LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Siena Men's Lacrosse program will be looking to build upon their success it enjoyed over the second half of last season by hosting NJIT this Saturday at 1 p.m. from Hickey Field to open the 2023 season.
Learning how to win has been a gradual progression for the Saints over the course of the past two seasons, but that arrow is pointing up.
During the 2021 season, Siena dropped seven games by two goals or fewer. Conversely, after starting last season 1-5, the Saints found their winning touch by going 5-4 down the stretch. It was competitive in all others, losing those by two goals or fewer.
There is newfound optimism under fifth-year head coach
Liam Gleason after earning a playoff spot for the first time since 2014 and returning nine starters including seven upperclassmen.
The experience-laden Saints will be seeking for its' first opening day win since 2020 when it defeated LIU 14-12.
Siena holds a 2-0 all-time advantage against NJIT, last winning 12-5 at Newark, NJ in 2020. Fifth-year midfielder
Christian Watts recorded a hat trick in the game. A year earlier, the Saints won 20-18 in Loudonville.
The Green & Gold's offense is spearheaded by sophomore attackman
Pratt Reynolds (33 goals, eight assists), Watts (32 goals, eight assists), and fifth-year attackman
George Rusnak (six goals, four assists), who switches over from the midfield.
The defense will be anchored by junior defender
Trevor Marsala (19 caused turnovers), and fifth-year goalkeeper Chris Yanchoris (210 saves, .574 save percentage).
The Highlanders (0-13 in 2022) enter a new era as the program named Eric Wolf as its' new head coach last June. NJIT was selected to finish eighth in the America East Conference Preseason poll.
Returning leading scorers include redshirt juniors Gavyn Willson (16 goals) and Owen Corry (15 goals).
The coaching staffs for each team are heavily laden with University of Albany alumni. All four Siena coaches graduated from there and both NJIT head coach Wolf and assistant coach Sean Eccles did as well.
Gleason and Wolf were two-year teammates while playing for the Great Danes lacrosse program. From 2009-2010, they crossed paths again as assistant coaches on the Siena lacrosse team, making history as the program won its first-ever MAAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.
Follow the Saints' season opening game by clicking on the corresponding live video and live stats links at the top of the page. Watch via Siena All-Access live stream with Tom Schwan on the play-by-play call. Continuous in-game updates will be provided via the team's official twitter page @SienaLacrosse. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, and #MAACLAX.
