LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Soccer seeks to take another major step in its turnaround when the Saints host red-hot MAAC frontrunner Fairfield on Senior Day Saturday at 1 p.m. on Hickey Field. Just prior to kickoff, Siena will honor its three seniors – Francesca Gerbasi, Ryleigh Hopeck, and Cora Keohane – in a special pre-match ceremony.
 
Siena (5-5, 2-1) can match its win total from the past two seasons combined – and accomplish that feat by the end of September – with what would surely be a statement victory. Last year's MAAC runner-up, Fairfield (8-1, 3-0) arrives in Loudonville riding a six-match win streak in which they've outscored the opposition by a 31-5 margin. The Stags only loss to date was at then 24^th ranked Texas A&M back on Aug. 24.
 
The Saints saw their three-match win streak come to an end last Saturday with a narrow 1-0 setback at two-time defending MAAC Tournament Champion and preseason favorite Quinnipiac. Despite the setback, Siena, which was predicted to finish ninth according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, went toe-to-toe for the full 90 with the conference's standard-bearer.
 
The Saints success continues to be spearheaded by its youth, with freshmen Catherine Rogers and Cate Burns leading the way on their respective ends of the field for a unit which routinely features seven underclassmen as part of its starting 11. Already a program record-tying three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week as well as the conference's Offensive Player of the Week back on Sept. 16, Rogers currently leads in MAAC in both points (16) and shots (36), is tied for the conference-lead in goals (six), and is tied for third in assists (four). Burns meanwhile has settled in between the pipes, where she's bequeathed just two goals over her past four matches – one of which was on a penalty kick – while totaling 13 saves during that span.
 
The Siena turnaround has been orchestrated by the Dean of MAAC Women's Soccer Coaches, Steve Karbowski, who can also match a major personal milestone with a victory Saturday. Karbowski enters the weekend with 131 career MAAC victories – including both regular season and tournament action – and needs one more to match the all-time record of 132 held by former Niagara coach Peter Veltri.
 
But the task at hand is a tall one for the Saints who are set to conclude arguably the toughest part of their league schedule with the consecutive matches against Quinnipiac and Fairfield. The Stags are currently the MAAC co-leader along with Canisius at 3-0 in MAAC action.
 
The Fairfield success has been predicated on a balanced lethal offensive attack which features eight different players who have already registered multiple goals. The Stags lead the MAAC and rank amongst the nationally leaders in scoring offense (3.22 – sixth nationally), shots (20.6 – ninth nationally), shots on goal (10.1), assists (22), and points (80). No slouches themselves offensively, Siena also ranks in the top-three in MAAC currently in scoring, shots, shots on goals, and corners.
 
The Saints will also look to reverse their success against a perennially strong Fairfield program which has historically had Siena's number. Set to meet for the 35^th time, the Stags lead the all-time series by a 22-8-4 margin. Fairfield has won four straight in the series by a 12-4 margin, dating back to the Saints 1-0 overtime victory on Oct. 3, 2018 in Connecticut. Moreover, the Stags are unbeaten spanning their past six trips to Loudonville (5-0-1), while outscoring Siena by a 15-3 margin. The Saints last beat Fairfield in Loudonville 14 years ago during the program's first MAAC Championship season in 2010, defeating the Stags 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 29, 2010.
 
The Siena-Fairfield showdown will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Tim Drawbridge and former Saint Jayanna Monds '20 on the call. The match will serve as the front-end of a Saturday Siena Soccer doubleheader on Hickey Field, with the men to follow with their MAAC opener vs. Saint Peter's at 4 p.m.