LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Soccer kicks off the program's 32^nd season of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competition when the Saints host Manhattan Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hickey Field.
 
Siena (1-4-1) enters its league lid-lifter looking to build upon its first victory of the season, a 2-1 triumph at Holy Cross Sunday. Cate Flanagan and Annie Bagnall scored second half goals just 67 seconds apart, while Brooke Boermeester made six saves in the win.
 
The Saints are also in search of reestablishing their home field advantage after having dropped their first three matches in Loudonville by a combined 12-0 margin to start the season, albeit against a pair of perennial regional powers in Central Connecticut and New Hampshire and an ACC foe in Syracuse. Conversely, Siena has played to an even 6-6 scoring breakdown in splitting their first three road matches (1-1-1). Overall, the Saints are looking to snap a 12-match winless streak (0-8-4) at home in which they've been outscored by a combined 24-5 margin, dating back to a 2-0 MAAC Quarterfinals victory over Iona on Halloween Day 2021. Siena will also look to break a five-plus match home scoring drought spanning 479:58 dating back to last Oct. 8 vs. Marist. 
 
The Saints enter the program's 32^nd MAAC season having been one of the conference's standard bearers in recent history. Siena, which holds a solid .550 all-time winning percentage in conference action, has captured the program's first three MAAC Tournament Championships spanning the past 13 years (2010, 2015, 2020-21). Moreover, head coach Steve Karbowski, who's in the midst of his 25^th season at the helm, ranks second all-time in league history with 126 combined MAAC Regular Season and Tournament wins, trailing only Peter Veltri (128) who also hits the quarter century mark this fall at Niagara.
 
For the second time in four Siena home matches, Saturday's contest features a twin showdown. Earlier this season, sophomore center back Kam Vanderbosch squared off against her twin sister Shea and Syracuse, and on Saturday it will be the Stowell sisters turn to take center stage with Saints freshman Megan Stowell facing her identical twin Kaylee from Manhattan (1-3-1) for the first time at the collegiate level. The Stowell twins, who were All-League selections together at Arlington High School, currently lead their respective teams in scoring on the young season. A third sister, sophomore Casey, also plays Division I women's soccer at nearby UAlbany.
 
Manhattan, like Siena, will also be looking to get off to a strong start in league play Saturday as both teams seek to outperform their MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll ranks. The Saints were projected to finish eighth, while the Jaspers were picked 11^th and last. Manhattan has been shutout in four of their first five matches this fall, while totaling just two goals and averaging only 5.8 shots.
 
Siena and Manhattan are set to meet for the 33^rd time, with the Saints holding a decisive 20-7-6 advantage in the all-time series. Siena carries a nine-match home unbeaten streak (8-0-1) against the Jaspers in which they hold a commanding 24-6 scoring advantage. Today marks the 22^nd anniversary of Manhattan's last win in Loudonville, a 3-0 victory on Sept. 9, 2001.
 
Overall, the Saints are unbeaten over their past four tilts vs. the Jaspers with a pair of overtime home wins and two draws in Riverdale. The squads played to a scoreless tie last season in the Bronx.
 
"The Voice of the Saints" Emmanuel Berbari and Jayanna Monds '20 have the call of the action on ESPN+, which can be viewed by clicking the corresponding link. Fans can also follow along via the live stats and on-site social media updates through the Siena Women's Soccer X (formerly Twitter) account @SienaWSoccer.