Déjà vu? Not quite. Thursday's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Semifinal matchup between third-seeded Siena Men's Soccer and the second-seeded Rider Broncs brings with it a rematch of the 2023 MAAC Semifinals. The 2024 edition between the programs will kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday from Ben Cohen Field in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Tickets for Thursday's semifinal match are $10 for adults, and $5 for children, seniors (65+) and students, and can be purchased
here. Those unable to attend can watch live on ESPN+, or keep up with live stats and/or X updates by clicking the corresponding links.
Siena's 2024 season was extended following a thrilling 2-1 win over sixth-seeded Manhattan on Nov. 10.
Mario Navarro Perez scored in the 83rd minute to break a 1-1 tie, and help deliver the program its first postseason win in eight seasons, as well as the first for head coach
Graciano Brito. The victory also served as the 300th in program history.
The Saints recently had a program record seven players named to All-MAAC teams - highlighted by Rookie of the Year & All-MAAC First Team honoree
Dren Dobruna. Along with Dobrna,
Zach Gardner and
Henrik Winkelmann named first team honors, while
Lee Mara and
Bennet Glinder secured spots on the second team, and Navarro Perez and
Cole Hellert on the third team.
Rider earned the second-seed in the conference tournament following a 6-1-1 mark in league play (13-4-1 overall). The 2023 MAAC Champions seek its second consecutive conference crown, and lean on eight members who earned All-MAAC honors on Monday. The program took in three major awards in MAAC Coach of the Year, Chad Duernberger, Golden Boot, Momo Diop, and Golden Glove, Adam Salama.
Rider's six MAAC titles are the second most in league history (1997-98, 2015-16, 2018, 2023), and are currently the most amongst active league members. The program is 23-10-3 all-time in MAAC postseason matches, and has reached the semifinals 13 times in 28 years.
Rider leads the all-time series 16-12-6. The teams have already met seven times this decade, with the Broncs having the upper hand 5-1-1. The teams met this season on Oct. 26, also in Lawrenceville, resulting in a slim 1-0 Broncs win. All-MAAC Second Team selection Jack McGeechan delivered the game-winner in the 77th minute off a Diop assist.
Thursday's winner will clash with the winner of #1 Iona and #5 Marist in the MAAC Championship on Sun., Nov. 17. The highest remaining seed will host the match, with time TBD.
