LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Men's Soccer's offensive struggles continued to begin the 2023 season. The Saints fell to Patriot League foe Lafayette by a score of 3-1 at Hickey Field on Friday evening.
The Leopards' scoring came at the hands of senior forward Hale Lombard, who netted a hat trick in just over 36 minutes of play. Lombard's strikes came in the form of a Siena turnover in the box in the 18^th minute, a pair of volleys from teammates Beaux Lizewski and Benji Grossi in the 26^th minute, and a near bicycle kick in the 37^th minute.

Siena answered with an early second-half goal in the box from senior Jack Mendrysa off a blocked shot in the 49^th minute for the team's first goal of the season. Lafayette had one more score in store, capitalizing on a Siena turnover with a pair of volleys finished off by Lizewski in the 66th minute. 

The Leopards held a 16-10 shots advantage and drew six of ten corner kick opportunities. Mendrysa and freshman Alexander Zielonka steadied the team with three shot attempts each, while graduate student goalkeeper Marley Mascarenas registered three saves in his first career start for the Saints.

Following two of its first three matches of the season at home, Siena now embarks on a four-match road trip, beginning on Monday, September 4 at Big East foe UConn in Storrs, Connecticut at 7 PM.