LOUDONVILLE, NY – It was a rip-roaring start to open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play for Siena Men's Lacrosse.

The Saints controlled the final 15 minutes of play, ripping four goals and unquestionably winning the hustle battle on their way to an 11-8 MAAC opening victory against Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon at Hickey Field.

Siena (3-2, 1-0 MAAC) has now won five consecutive games at Hickey Field dating back to the 2022 season. It is the longest such streak since the Saints won six straight at home bridging the 2011-2012 seasons. 

Christian Watts scored a game-high four goals including two key scores in the fourth quarter. The first of his fourth quarter goals came with 14:16 left in the game on a rip from the wing that gave the Saints an 8-7 lead. The second occurred with 8:17 left where Watts ran from the restraining line, past his defender and fired on the run toward the net to make it a 10-8 Siena lead.    

Sandwiched in between those goals, Travis Fry notched his first career collegiate goal on a diagonal feed from Ryan McCarthy that sailed over several SHU defenders' heads.

Zac Schuette padded it to a three-goal lead on a goal from the far-right side. 

Pratt Reynolds had a strong back bounce game with his second hat trick of the season. The sophomore now has eight goals on the season.  McCarthy had a team-high four assists.

Sal Miccio led the Pioneers (0-6, 0-1 MAAC) with two goals. SHU has now lost three straight games by three goals or fewer.
 
The Saints enjoyed a 14-4 advantage in groundballs in the fourth quarter and won three of five faceoffs in the decisive quarter on a day where they won 7-of-22 overall.  

Saints' goalkeeper Chris Yanchoris (3-2) tied a season-high in saves with 13.

Siena outshot the Pioneers 42-34 including 27-21 for shots on goal. 

On tap, Siena travels to Lexington, VA for their first road conference game at VMI (3-4, 0-1 MAAC) on Saturday, March 18 for a scheduled noon faceoff.

The teams last met in 2013 with the Saints topping the Keydets 16-10. The schools have split the all-time series dating back to 1985 at nine wins apiece. 

VMI lost to LIU 14-13 on Saturday in their first conference game of the season.