Siena Women's Soccer starts its quest for a fourth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title when the fifth-seeded Saints battle No. 4 seed Sacred Heart in the MAAC Quarterfinals Sunday at noon in Fairfield, Connecticut.
 
MAAC Quarterfinals tickets can be purchased online in advance through Ticketmaster or in-person at the entrance to Park Ave Field. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
The advancing team will face either MAAC Regular Season Champion and top-seed Fairfield (6 p.m.) or second-seeded Quinnipiac (1 p.m.) in the semifinal round Thursday. The MAAC Tournament re-seeds after each round.
 
SIENA IN THE MAAC CHAMPIONSHIPS (23^RD APPEARANCE)
Titles: 3 (2010, 2015, 2020-21)
Record: 15-16-4 (.486)
Away: 3-3-2 (.500)
MAAC Quarterfinals: 6-5 (.545)
As the No. 5 seed: 0-1 (.000)
Vs. the No. 4 seed: 1-2 (.333)
Vs. Sacred Heart: 0-0 (NA)             
 
Siena makes its 23^rd overall MAAC Tournament appearance and second straight following a two-year hiatus. The Saints have captured a total of three MAAC Tournament Championships which, ironically, have all come in five-year increments (2010, 2015, 2020-21). This marks the fifth season since the most recent Siena title, which came during the 2020 season which was played in the Spring of 2021 as part of the COVID-affected campaign.   
 
The Saints hold a 15-16-4 all-time record in MAAC Tournament matches, punctuated by an impressive run in recent times. Beginning with the program's first MAAC Championship season of 2010, Siena has achieved a stellar 13-6-2 (.667) record. The Saints 13 MAAC Tournament victories since 2010 are one more than the next closest program (Quinnipiac – 12), and only trail former league powerhouse Monmouth (14) for the most during that time. Prior to 2010, Siena was just 2-10-2 spanning the program's first 14 MAAC Tournament matches over their first 18 seasons as a league member.
 
The Saints are a solid 3-3-2 overall in true MAAC Tournament road matches, and are unbeaten through overtime in four of their past five (3-1-1). Five of the previous six Siena MAAC Tournament matches have come at home, with today's tilt marking the program's first true road postseason contest since the fourth seeded Saints tied No. 2 seed Quinnipiac 1-1 in the 2021 semifinals before falling in a penalty shootout.
 
Siena is 6-5 in MAAC Quarterfinals matches, and is seeking to bounce back following a stunning late defeat last season when fifth-seeded Manhattan scored the only goal with just 76 seconds remaining in regulation on Hickey Field. Prior to that defeat, the Saints had won five straight quarterfinal contests while outscoring the opposition by a 9-1 margin. Siena had also advanced at least as far as the MAAC Semifinals in six straight postseason appearances starting in 2015, until that streak was snapped last fall.
 
Despite preparing to play in the program's 36^th all-time MAAC Tournament match Sunday, this is only the second time ever in which the Saints are the No. 5 seed. Siena dropped its only previous MAAC Tournament match as the five-seed, falling 2-1 at fourth-seeded Rider in 2014. The Saints are 1-2 all-time vs. No. 4 seeds, falling both to Rider in 2014 and in a neutral-site contest vs. Quinnipiac in 2016 (L, 1-0), with their lone victory coming as the top-seed over fourth-seeded Rider 2-1 in the Spring 2021 MAAC Semifinals en route to the program's third and most recent title.
 
Siena and Sacred Heart meet for the first time in postseason action. The Pioneers joined the MAAC prior to the start of last season.
 
SCOUTING SIENA (9-4-6)
Siena heads into postseason play riding a wave of momentum. For the second straight season, the Saints begin MAAC Tournament action on the strength of a four-match win streak, equaling the program's longest since winning five in a row from Sept. 27 – Oct. 11, 2017. A victory Sunday would match the program's longest win streak since posting six straight victories from Oct. 17 – Nov. 18, 2015, which culminated in a MAAC title.
 
Moreover, Siena carries a five-match unbeaten streak (4-0-1) into November, the program's longest such streak since opening the Spring 2021 COVID season unbeaten over their first eight matches (6-0-2), concluding with a MAAC Championship. The Saints have outscored the opposition by a 13-0 margin during their five-match win streak, punctuated by a program-record five consecutive shutouts. Siena currently carries a 512:47 shutout streak, just 40 seconds shy of the program benchmark of 513:27, set from Sept. 29 – Oct. 17, 2018.
 
The Saints are in search of their second straight double-digit win season – and 13^th in program history – with a victory on Sunday. Siena lost just four regular season matches, the program's fewest in a full season since only dropping a program-low three during the first MAAC Championship season of 2010. The Saints have however played to a program-record tying six ties (2014), including a single-season record four scoreless draws this fall.
 
Predicted to finish third according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, veteran Siena experienced ups and downs throughout the course of the season before bearing down when it mattered most. The Saints nine-member senior class matches the largest in program history (Class of 2022, honored Fall 2021).
 
Siena finished August 2-1-3, with their only setback coming at defending National Champion and then top-ranked North Carolina. The month, however, concluded with a pair of scoreless draws as the Saints were ultimately held scoreless for 420:22 through the middle of September. Siena experienced a second separate prolonged scoring drought of 372:14 bridging September into October before the offense caught fire for the stretch run. The Saints rattled off three consecutive 3-0 victories before exploding for a season-high four scores in the regular season finale at Iona Wednesday to secure their spot in the MAAC Tournament.
 
Siena has been paced by a balanced offensive output, featuring five double-digit scorers. Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Catherine Rogers leads the squad, ranking tied for sixth in the MAAC in points (19), and tied for seventh in both goals (seven) and assists (five). Fellow sophomore Briana Neary has added 18 points while functioning as the squad's lone starting striker for the most of the season, and played a major role in helping the Saints secure a postseason berth during the stretch run, tallying a team-high 10 points during the current four-match win streak. Senior winger Cate Flanagan has served as the catalyst, smashing the program single-season record with now 11 assists, which ranks fourth nationally through Friday. Abby Daly and Micaiah Croce have each added 10 points, with the senior Croce leading the way with her first three collegiate match-winning goals, including two straight.  
 
The backbone of the Siena success this season has arguably been the backline which has played at an historic rate. In addition to the current program-record five consecutive clean sheets, the Saints defense has registered 10 total shutouts. Siena has allowed one goal or fewer in 18 of 19 matches this fall, the lone exception coming at defending National Champion and then top-ranked North Carolina, which was a 1-0 score midway through the second half. The Saints have been blessed with good health in the back, with defenders Sarah Harnett and Kam Vanderbosch and goalkeeper Cate Burns starting all 19 matches, with back Lindsey Harrington starting 18. Siena ranks 28^th nationally in goals against average (0.68) and 32^nd in shutout percentage (.526) through Friday.
 
Two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1, Sept. 22) Burns has anchored the back with an historic season of her own. Arguably the frontrunner for the MAAC Golden Glove Award, presented annually to the top keeper, the sophomore currently leads the MAAC in save percentage (.860 – 13^th nationally), goals against average (0.65 – 24^th nationally), and individual shutouts (eight – 26^th nationally). Her goals against average is just one-tenth of a point off the program single-season record (0.64 by Carey Winkler in 2006), and she is also just one shutout shy of the program individual single-season record (nine by Taylor Dorado in 2018). Moreover, Burns currently ranks as the program's all-time career leader with a 0.71 goals against average – 25 points better than her nearest competitor – through her first 37 career matches played.
 
Siena is led by the Dean of MAAC Coaches, Steve Karbowski, who has amassed 228 career victories spanning his 27 seasons at the helm of his alma mater. The winningest coach in conference history with 142 career league victories (regular season and tournament), he has piloted the Saints to each of the program's three MAAC Championships while recording 11 double-digit win seasons and securing 18 postseason appearances.
 
SCOUTING SACRED HEART (9-8-1)
Sacred Heart enters postseason action with their nine victories marking the program's most since 2022 (11). The Pioneers posted a program-record five-match win streak from Sept. 27 – Oct. 11, all of which came during conference action.
 
Sacred Heart stumbled a bit down the stretch after sitting atop the MAAC table for a solid chunk of the season. The Pioneers enter postseason play having lost three straight conference matches. Predicted to finish fifth according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Sacred Heart opened conference play 7-2 before dropping their final three.
 
The Saints and Pioneers finished tied for fourth in the standings with 21 points, with Sacred Heart earning the tiebreaker – and right to host the quarterfinal matchup – by virtue of their 1-0 head-to-head victory over Siena in the MAAC opener back on Sept. 6 in Loudonville.
 
The Pioneers have been paced offensively by the dynamic duo of Morgan Bovardi (24 points) and Shea Kelleher (20) who rank tied for second and tied for fourth in scoring in the MAAC, respectively. Bovardi is the program's all-time leader with 30 career goals.
 
Defensively, three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week Kyran Thievon ranks third in the MAAC in shutouts (six), saves (74), and save percentage (.831), and fourth in goals against average (0.97).
 
THE SERIES WITH SACRED HEART (13^TH MEETING: SACRED HEART LEADS, 7-3-2)
Sacred Heart has controlled the all-time series, 7-3-2, and won each of the first two matchups between the programs as MAAC foes by identical 1-0 margins. The programs first met for seven consecutive seasons in non-conference action from 1998-04, and then three additional times prior to the Pioneers joining the MAAC before the start of the 2024 season. Sacred Heart is unbeaten in five straight in the series (3-0-2), with the most recent Siena victory coming by a 1-0 score on Sept. 17, 2004 in the Governor's Cup played in Albany.
 
The Pioneers survived a dominant second half effort by the Saints to hold on to win the MAAC opener 1-0 on Sept. 6 in Loudonville. Siena held a commanding 10-2 second half advantage in shots while also attempting all four corners in the stanza, but couldn't overcome a 10^th minute corner kick finished by Bovardi off a service from Lindsay McShea. Thievon made for our her five saves during the second half to post the clean sheet for Sacred Heart.