LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Lacrosse will usher in conference play with a match up against newcomer Rider on Saturday with a noon opening draw set at Hickey Field. 

Siena (5-3) is riding a three-game winning streak after defeating Le Moyne, Colgate and American by a combined score of 44-22. 

Rider (6-2), a full-time member of the MAAC, joined the conference for women's lacrosse this season after Broncs athletics director Ron Harnum made the announcement last August. 

The Broncs hit the ground running by winning its first four games over Fairleigh Dickinson, Saint Francis, Central Connecticut State and Monmouth. 

After taking a defeat against Oregon, Rider came back to top both Old Dominion and Presbyterian. 

Last time out, the Broncs took a three-goal defeat against Kennesaw State. 

"We're supposed to have some pretty rainy and windy weather," said first-year Saints head coach Danielle Schwan-Tetreault.

"You got to be able to still come out and still perform and play our game of lacrosse and not let the elements creep in.  It's dealing with the unknowns.  Rider is a new team. They've done really well with their non-conference schedule.  It's dealing with seeing different players that we are not as familiar with as the other conference opponents." 

The Saints will have to find a way to slow the Rider's high scoring ability as the Broncs rank second in the MAAC in goals per game (14.63) as they've tallied 117 goals on the season. 

It also ranks first in shots taken (35.25 per game including 26.13 shots on goals per game) and they've been advantageous in that they've scored 22 woman-up goals.

Siena has done well when the opportunities present themselves as well, striking for the second most woman-up goals with 19 on the season. 

The game features top scorers on both sides with Rider's redshirt sophomore Katie Walsh (tied for fifth in goals per game with 3.13 and graduate student Kyle Garcia (fifth in points per game with 4.50)

The Saints have been led by reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Grace Dobrzynski, who is coming off an 11-point week in Siena's victories against Colgate and on the road at American. 

Dobrzynski ranks third in assists per game in the conference (2.75) and is sixth in points per game (4.38). 

Junior attack Kelly Logue is also among the leaders, ranking tied for sixth in assists per game (1.63). 

On the draw, Walsh also ranks first in draw controls per game (7.13) while Siena senior Taryn Asselin is third in the MAAC in draw controls per game with 5.25. 

Defense has been strong for both teams thus far with Rider's Jamie Kubach allowing 11.38 goals per game (fifth) with a .444 save percentage (fourth) and has made 52 saves (sixth).

Siena counters with net minder and graduate student Sabrina Krasner who ranks number one in saves (67) on a .441 save percentage (fifth) and has allowed 10.78 goals per game (third). 

The game will be featured on ESPN+ with Chris Watson on the play-by-play and Madison Jones serving as the color commentator. 

Fans can follow along with the corresponding live stats link, while continuous in-game updates will be provided via the women's lacrosse team's official X page @SienaWLAX. 

Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints and #BigDawgs.