FAIRFIELD, CT – Siena Men's Soccer punctuated the program's milestone 50^th varsity season with an historic exclamation point. Martin Piedeleu scored the decisive goal and Bennet Glinder saved the potential match-tying penalty kick with just 52 seconds remaining as the second-seeded Saints secured the program's first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship with a 2-1 triumph over top-seed Sacred Heart at Park Ave Field.
 
Winners of four straight and unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 matches (8-1-4), Siena (9-5-4) punches its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The complete field of 48 will be revealed Monday at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.
 
Lucas Almeida and Piedeleu each scored during a wild second half for the Saints.
 
The red-hot Almeida broke the scoreless deadlock less than five minutes into the second half, finishing a cross from Piedeleu. Almeida has now scored in four straight matches – and five of the last six – while totaling eight goals during that span.
 
The MAAC Rookie of the Year Piedeleu then appeared to put the match on ice, burying a penalty kick in the 78^th minute to make it 2-0. But MAAC Regular Season Champion Sacred Heart (9-4-5) wouldn't go down easy.
 
Just 50 seconds later, Brady Poor got the Pioneers back within a score. Sacred Heart peppered the Siena goal with seven more shots thereafter over the final 11 minutes, capped by a golden opportunity when they were awarded a penalty kick with only 52 seconds left.
 
But Glinder guessed right, thwarting Ivan Morcillo and the Pioneers as the final seconds ticked away. Glinder finished with nine saves to secure MAAC Tournament MVP honors. He was joined on the All-MAAC Tournament Team by Piedeleu, Thomas Sams, and Tomislav Vrdoljak.
 
Sacred Heart held a 22-7 advantage in shots and attempted all seven corners in defeat.
 
MAAC Golden Glove winner Luca Marinelli made a pair of saves for the Pioneers, who had their 11-match unbeaten streak (8-0-3) snapped, falling for the first time since Sept. 14 at St. John's.
 
The Saints also ended a 10-match unbeaten streak (6-0-4) at Park Ave for Sacred Heart dating back to last fall.