RIVERDALE, NY – "Weather the storm and there will be a run for us." 

The words from Siena Men's Lacrosse head coach Liam Gleason rang true, but the Saints' early six-goal deficit proved to be a little bit too much to overcome as fifth-seeded Siena made No. 1 seed Sacred Heart sweat for it in a 15-13 turn back that ended the Saints' season in the MAAC Semifinal Round at Manhattan's Gaelic Park Thursday afternoon.

While Siena weathered the big storm early and did get the run they were seeking to have one last shot at pulling off another type of "Manhattan Miracle" type outcome, Sacred Heart (12-4) had one last burst on goals from MAAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year Morgan O'Reilly and All-MAAC Second Team selection Carson Spooner in the final minute to put it away. 

In between, the Saints' Patrick Linton made good on a man-up opportunity to cut the lead to 14-13 with 30 seconds remaining. 

But, Spooner found an empty net with nine seconds left to end the Saints' last gasp hope. 

The game's first half was reminiscent to how the first meeting between the teams went back on March 9 in Fairfield, CT when Sacred Heart built a huge halftime lead and carried out an 18-8 victory. 

When the teams reached halftime of Thursday's Semifinal, it was 9-4 in favor of Sacred Heart—the same pace as the first meeting. 

But, Siena (8-8) had other plans in mind as it would fought to the end with nine second half goals of their own and outscored the Pioneers 7-3 in the final frame including a stretch when they scored six of seven goals capped by a Pratt Reynolds goal that was assisted by Patrick Radomski that made it 13-12 with 3:24 to play.

The Saints men's lacrosse program dropped to 7-3 all-time in MAAC Semifinal games, but have now advanced at least to the MAAC Semifinals in each of the past three seasons under coach Gleason. 

Siena eliminated SHU in last season's MAAC Quarterfinal Game at Hickey Field in the teams' only other playoff meeting. 

SHU, who was receiving votes in the latest USILA Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll, won its 10^th game in a row and will now await the winner of No. 2 LIU and No. 3 Manhattan in Saturday's MAAC Championship.

In the faceoff "X", Siena graduate student Dylan Pape went out on a high note, finishing 18-of-31 on faceoffs and led the team with a game-high 12 groundballs.  

Reynolds finished with three goals, his 11^th hat trick this season