LOUDONVILLE, NY - Roughly 11 months since meeting in the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Semifinals, Siena Men's Soccer (4-4-1, 3-0) aims to avenge its postseason loss to the reigning league runner-up Rider Broncs (1-7-2, 0-2-1) when the sides meet at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, on Hickey Field.
The Saints enter Saturday's match as one of three unbeaten teams in the MAAC, as well as one of two with a 3-0 record (Sacred Heart). A catalyst to Siena's three-match point streak has been junior goalkeeper
Bennet Glinder, who has posted three consecutive clean sheets. In doing so, Glinder has lowered his goals against average from 2.55 to 1.65 and increased his saver percentage to .702 - tied for sixth in the conference. The junior is now tied for the league lead with three shutouts and has also taken sole possession of second all-time in program history with 13 for his career.
Coming off of MAAC Rookie of the Week honors,
Martin Piedeleu carries a two-match goal streak into Saturday's action. The freshman's game-winning tally against Fairfield on Sept. 27 helped lead to his MAAC weekly accolade before he went on to produce Siena's fourth goal of the afternoon in its highest-scoring contest of the season. With goals in back-to-back outings, Piedeleu has since moved into a tie for the eighth most in the league this season.
In Siena's 4-0 win over Canisius on Oct. 1,
Lucas Almeida assisted on each score to tie a single-match program record that has stood since 1995. Additionally, the junior doubled the single-match MAAC high for the 2025 season and is now tied for the league lead with five helpers on the season.
Two seasons removed from winning the MAAC Championship and one from returning to the MAAC Championship game, the Broncs have struggled through 10 matches this season - posting a 1-7-2 overall record and a 0-2-1 ledger in league action. Since defeating George Washington at home on Sept. 1, Rider is 0-5-1 over its last six outings, including an 0-4 record on the road. Having scored just nine goals over 10 matches, the Broncs rank last in the MAAC, averaging .900 per contest, while also tying for 10th, allowing 2.00 to opponents. Gio Polizzi leads the team with three goals this season, and Yoav Arikha has seen the most time in goal with five starts - posting a 1-3-1 mark with a 1.40 goals against average and a .696 save percentage.
The Broncs own a 17-12-6 edge in the all-time series between the programs and are 5-0-1 against the Saints over the last six meetings dating back to the 2021 MAAC Quarterfinals. Siena searches for its first victory over Rider since the 2021 regular season, as well as its first on Hickey Field since the 2017 season.
Ryan Zimmerman and Jayanna Monds will have the call on ESPN+, while an international stream and pressbox "X" updates can be found by clicking on the corresponding links.
Following their matchup with the Broncs, the Saints remain home to host Sacred Heart at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
