LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Soccer is quickly proving that it's a team to be reckoned with. After battling two-time defending MAAC Tournament Champion Quinnipiac to a one-goal decision last weekend, the youthful Saints took another big step forward in their continued growth Saturday. Predicted to finish ninth according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the upstart Saints fought league frontrunner Fairfield to a 1-1 draw on Senior Day at Hickey Field, extinguishing the nation's fourth longest active winning streak in the process.
Siena (5-5-1, 2-1-1) was resilient in overcoming early adversity to secure their first point against perennial MAAC power Fairfield (8-1-1, 3-0-1) in six years. Elle Scott staked the Stags to a quick advantage just 2:29 in, punching home the rebound after an Alex Darcy shot deflected off the crossbar.
The Saints responded with the equalizer in the 39
th minute, courtesy of the conference's leading scorer.
Iona Snape made a nifty one-on-one move to break free down the right side and crossed to
Catherine Rogers, as No. 7 one-timed home her MAAC-leading seventh goal of the season. The three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week, who also paces the league in shots, accounted for six of the nine Siena looks on the afternoon.
Both teams evenly battled for the advantage in the second half, before Fairfield made a late push. The Stags registered six shots and a pair of corners over the final 4:35 as part of a frenetic finish, but
Cate Burns and the Saints held the fort as Fairfield was forced to leave the field without three points for just the second time all season, dating back to their only defeat on Aug. 24 at then 24
th ranked Texas A&M.
The Stags, which entered play ranked ninth nationally in shots (20.6), held a 22-9 advantage in attempts and an 8-5 margin in corners.
Burns made two of her season-high tying six saves during the final Fairfield flurry, as the freshman anchored a Siena defense which acquitted itself quite well against a squad which entered the day ranked sixth nationally in scoring (3.22). The Stags had averaged an increased 5.2 goals during their six-match win streak entering play.
Katie Wright stopped three shots for Fairfield which ran its unbeaten streak in Loudonville to seven straight (5-0-2).
Following their only home contest during a challenging five-match stretch, the Saints return to the road for a pair of league contests next week to kick off October. Siena is back in action Wednesday night when they travel to new MAAC member Merrimack for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
