LOUDONVILLE, NY - Siena Women's Soccer will begin its 45th varsity season on Thursday, Aug. 15 with a trip to Easton, PA to take on Lafayette College at 1 p.m. The match will be the first of four straight on the road for the Saints to open their 2024 campaign. 
 
Thursday's contest will be aired on ESPN+, while live stats will also be provided by Lafayette. Live up-to-the-minute updates will also be available by following @SienaWSoccer on Twitter. 
 
Following Thursday's match at Lafayette, Siena will continue its 19-match regular season slate with trips to Bryant University, Syracuse University, and Le Moyne College before kicking off a four-match homestand from Sept. 1 through Sept. 14. The stretch of home contests will feature a pair of MAAC opponents in Iona University (Sept. 7) and Mount St. Mary's University (Sept. 14). Following one final road non-league match against crosstown rival UAlbany on Sept. 18, the Green and Gold will round out its final 10 MAAC bouts between Sept. 21 and Oct. 30.
 
The Saints were picked to finish ninth in the expanded 13-team MAAC after improving upon its 2022 season (2-11-5, 1-6-3 MAAC) with a 4-9-4 overall record and a 3-4-3 mark in league play last year. With the additions of Merrimack and Sacred Heart to the league, the MAAC Tournament field will increase this year from six to the top-eight teams qualifying for postseason play. All MAAC Tournament matches will be hosted by the higher seeded team, and the bracket will re-seed following the conclusion of each round. The MAAC Quarterfinals are set for Sunday, Nov. 3, with the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 7, and the MAAC Championship Match on Sunday, Nov. 10. 
 
Head Coach Steve Karbowski, who enters his 26th season at the helm, returns 17 letterwinners from last year's team that finished just one point shy of a postseason berth. Eight newcomers, including seven true freshmen, are also primed to join a youthful Saints squad.  
 
Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Megan Stowell and classmate and Third Team All-MAAC honoree Abby Daly highlight eight returners who started eight or more matches last fall. Stowell's 14 points and six assists were both top-six marks in the MAAC last season, while her four goals were tied for the team lead. Captain Annie Bagnall was another Saint who enjoyed a four-goal 2023 season and returns for her graduate year in 2024. Among the group of consistent starters returning from last season are midfielders/forwards Iona Snape, Cate Flanagan, Micaiah Croce, and Sarah Harnett, as well as Kam Vanderbosch on the back line. 
 
With the departures of goalkeepers Brooke Boermeester and Angela Fini, who combined to start all 17 matches last season, the Saints will look towards a fresh face in net this fall. Junior Maddie Finn and sophomore Josie Hayes return to the squad, while freshman Cate Burns will also join the goalie group. 
 
Dating back to the first-ever meeting between the programs in 2001, Siena holds an 3-0-2 all-time record against Lafayette. The Saints and Leopards have tied each of the two contests played in Easton, PA (2002 & 2016). Siena also won the most recent matchup played in the 2017 season with a 3-1 victory at Siena Field. 
 
Lafayette completed its 2023 season with a 7-8-1 overall mark, while the team's 3-6-0 mark in Patriot League play failed to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament. The Leopards found success on their home turf last year, posting a 5-2-1 mark at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium. The team returns its leader in goals and points from 2023, Nadia Zaffanella, who found the back of the net five times to go with a pair of assists en route to being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Lafayette will also feature a new face in goal without Lindsay Dewar, who started 15 contests last season and made 78 saves (.804 save percentage). Head Coach Mick Statham will enter his 19th season at the helm.