LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena head men's lacrosse coach
Liam Gleason described his team as hungry with a lot of experience and one that has faced a lot of adversity as well as great times donning the Green and Gold through the last few seasons.
For the 10 seniors and two graduate students on the Saints, they've seen first hand the team grow and significantly improve its win totals each year.
From being winless in 2021, that total jumped to six wins in 2022 before winning nine games last season including the program's first trip to the MAAC Championship Game since 2014.
"They (our senior class) know how hard it is to compete for a MAAC Championship every year so their leadership has been excellent," said coach Gleason, who begins his sixth season at the helm.
Conference coaches agreed with that sentiment as Siena was projected to finish first in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll a little over two weeks ago.
While the Saints realize it's a great recognition for the squad, they don't want to look ahead too much and instead focus on their next opponent.
On Saturday, Siena will officially open its' 61st varsity season at NJIT on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium in Newark, NJ.
Game time is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be streamed on AmericaEast.TV.
The Saints will be facing the Highlanders on opening day for a second consecutive season.
The Saints won in dramatic fashion last season with 12-11 victory in Loudonville in what was a competitive back-and-back game that was decided in the final minute. Siena is seeking a 4-0 record all-time against the Highlanders.
While the face of NJIT's record did not show it after finishing at 3-10 last season, the Highlanders had six losses by three goals or fewer. In this year's Preseason Poll, the Highlanders were projected tied for sixth in the America East Conference.
NJIT (1-0) has already got off to a good start, winning its opener 10-8 at St. John's on the strength on a career-high five goals from Arthur Miller.
The senior attackman was named the America East Offensive Player of the Week for his performance while graduate student goalkeeper Liam Brown was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week. Brown compiled 20 saves and had a .714 save percentage.
Expectations for Siena's 2024 team are high in large part to the 33 returning letter winners.
Among some of the top players for the Saints returning are top goal scorer junior
Pratt Reynolds, top facilitator and junior
Ryan McCarthy, and top faceoff specialist and graduate student
Dylan Pape.
Three players were also selected to the All-MAAC Preseason Team with seniors
Trevor Marsala and
Brian Mack both selected for defense while senior
Jack Erb was named as a short-stick midfielder on the team.
The Marsala and Mack defensive duo were among the stingiest in the conference, combining to cause 57 of a MAAC-high 160 caused turnovers on the season. Marsala, the Port Jefferson Station, NY native, was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team for a second consecutive season.
Mack, the Manhasset, NY native, earned recognition on the team for the first time in his collegiate career.
Erb, integral to preventing opposing teams from scoring and aiding the transition into offense, was chosen onto the team for the first time.
The Shoreham, NY native had two goals, five assists and 21 ground balls during the 2023 campaign.
