Cate Flanagan and Annie Bagnall scored second half goals just 67 seconds apart and Brooke Boermeester came up with some big saves late to propel Siena Women's Soccer to its first win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
 
Siena (1-4-1), which managed just two shots during a scoreless first half, came out of halftime with guns blazing. The Saints generated eight shots within the first 12 minutes of the second half, and made the most of their opportunities.
 
Siena scored off back-to-back corners just over a minute apart – one from each side – with reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week Megan Stowell serving in both scores. In the 53^rd minute, the Worcester-area native Flanagan finished in a scrum in front to open the scoring in her homecoming. Moments later, Bagnall corralled a service, spun on her defender, and scored to give the Saints a quick two-goal advantage with what would turn out to be the game-winning tally.
 
Holy Cross (1-3-2) registered the final 10 shots of the afternoon in a furious rally, finally breaking the shutout on a 76^th minute goal by Cerys Balmer. But while Siena bent, they did not break, thanks in large part to Boermeester. The graduate student goalkeeper finished with six saves, none bigger than her sprawling stop with less than three minutes remaining to preserve the lead.
 
Overall, The Crusaders held an 18-12 advantage in shots and a 10-6 margin in corners in what turned out to be a wide-open second half offensively following a defensive stalemate over the first 45. The teams combined for 22 shots and 11 corners in the final stanza.
 
Siena will look to build upon its first win of the season heading into their conference opener next Saturday when they host Manhattan at 1 p.m. at Hickey Field.