LOUDONVILLE, NY – The milestone 50^th varsity season for Siena Men's Soccer may prove to be one of the most challenging on paper in terms of competition. The Saints are ready to accept the challenge when they kick off the 2023 campaign at Patriot League foe Colgate on Thursday, August 24. Action at Beyer-Small '76 Field in Hamilton, New York is set for 7:30 PM.
 
The match will be aired live on ESPN+, while live up-to-the-minute updates will be available by following @SienaSoccer on Twitter.

Thursday's match will begin a 17-match regular season slate for the Saints, who have made MAAC postseason appearances in each of the first three years under the direction of head coach Graciano Brito. Siena will return to the Capital Region for a two-match home stand following its season opener, welcoming Sacred Heart and Lafayette to Hickey Field on August 29 and September 1, respectively.

The team is currently slated to face off against three teams who are either ranked or receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches National Poll, including defending national champion Syracuse on September 12. Furthermore, four opponents ended the 2022 season ranked in one of USC's eight regional polls, including Colgate, who ended the year ranked seventh in the Atlantic Region.  

Picked to finish fourth in the 2023 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Siena compiled an 8-5-6 overall mark last season, including a 5-3-3 tally away from home and a 4-3-1 record in non-conference action. The team is 2-1 in season openers under Coach Brito, taking wins over Sacred Heart in each of the last two years to commence a campaign.  

Despite losing 13 letterwinners from last season's roster, the Green and Gold pair 18 returners with ten newcomers to make up its 2023 squad. Rising juniors Henrik Winkelmann – who earned First Team All-MAAC honors last season as a defender and was a Preseason All-MAAC selection heading into this year – and Zach Gardner – who ranked third on the team with ten points in 2022 – will serve as this year's captains. Rising senior Bilal Hersi – who's 12 points ranked second for the Saints in 2022 – returns after earning a Second Team All-MAAC nod last year. Furthermore, the team returns rising junior Jesper Schone Vogtengen and rising senior Cole Hellert – who both combined for ten of the team's 33 assists last year.

Siena and Colgate renew their regional rivalry for the first time since 2016, with the Saints aiming for their first-ever win over the Raiders. Colgate owns a 14-0-1 record in the all-time series, with the lone draw coming back in 1995 in Loudonville. The Saints have dropped ten straight matches to their Patriot League foes, since, with one coming when Colgate was nationally-ranked and two going into overtime.

Under the direction of 19^th year head coach Erik Ronning, Colgate improved from an 0-18 shoring in 2021 to 7-4-7 last season, including wins over nationally-ranked Providence and Cornell. A 2017 NCAA College Cup Sweet 16 participant, the Raiders were also selected fourth in their conference's preseason poll and also return 18 letterwinners from last season. The team's returning contributors include 2022 Second Team All-Patriot League selection Aidan Davock (five goals, 11 points), Third Team honoree Alejandro Coury, and 2022 assist leader Cason Stafford.