LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Siena Men's Soccer team will begin its season at home for the first time since 2021 when the team welcomes the University of Massachusetts Minutemen to Hickey Field on Thursday, Aug. 22. The match is set to kick-off at 5 p.m.
The contest will be aired live on ESPN+, while live up-to-the-minute updates will be available by following @SienaSoccer on Twitter. International viewers will be able to watch live via Siena All-Access.
Thursday will begin a 16-match regular season for the Saints, who have made postseason appearances in each of the first four years under head coach
Graciano Brito. Following the season-opener, Siena will hit the road for four-straight games before returning to Loudonville to host the reigning champions of the Big East, Xavier University, at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13. Siena's MAAC slate will begin at home against Saint Peter's at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, with its last of eight league games being played at Marist at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Picked to finish fourth in the 2024 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll for the second consecutive season, the Saints posted an 8-9 overall record and an 8-2 mark in MAAC action last year to secure the second-seed in the MAAC Tournament. 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. 10, with the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 14, and the MAAC Championship Match on Sunday, Nov. 17.
The Green and Gold welcome back 16 members from the 2023 squad, pairing the veterans with 11 newcomers, including six true freshmen. MAAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year
Henrik Winkelmann will once again look to anchor Siena's defensive unit and serve as one of the team's captains yet again.
Zach Gardner returns for his senior season and second year as a captain after leading the team with 14 points off of four goals and six assists last year. Both his point and assist tallies were top-10 marks in the MAAC as well. Sophomore
Ben Biton will aim to improve upon a strong rookie campaign where he was one of four Saints with six or more points in 2023.
Bennet Glinder looks primed for another strong season in goal for the Saints after earning Second Team All-MAAC honors as a freshman in 2023, as well as being named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Glinder led the MAAC with a .766 save percentage last year while also ranking third in the conference with a 1.13 goals against average. Overall, the Bremen, Germany native went 8-8-0 last year with four of his wins coming in shutout fashion.
Siena and UMass will face-off against one another for the first time since 2013 for what will be the 12th all-time meeting between the programs. The Saints aim to capture their third-ever win over the Minutemen as their Atlantic 10 foes hold an 8-2-1 all-time record in the series. Both of Siena's wins (2012 and 2007) have come in Loudonville, as UMass has claimed five of the six contests played in Amherst, MA, with the lone draw also coming in the Commonwealth State in 2010.
Under now-10th year head coach Fran O'Leary, the Minutemen posted a 7-6-6 overall mark in 2023 and a 4-3-1 record in Atlantic 10 action. UMass defeated St. Louis University in PK's in the A10 Quarterfinals before falling to VCU in the semifinals. Picked to finish sixth in the A10 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the team returns reigning A10 Offensive Player of the Year, Alec Hughes, who finished tied for third in the nation last year with 15 goals and tied for 14th with 31 points. The team will also look towards a new face in goal without the return of Matt Zambetti, who posted a 7-6-4 record with a .700 save percentage over 17 starts last year.
