LOUDONVILLE, NY – The names of the front of their jerseys may say "Siena" and "Fairfield", but many new faces will run on the turf for the first time in this recent history of the Saints and Stags playing in high stakes games when the ball drops on Saturday at noon from Hickey Field to open the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate. 

It is the complete opposite of last season when Siena and Fairfield met for the first time in the season finale to close out the MAAC schedule. Now, it kicks off the conference schedule after both teams played its usual challenging non-conference slate to prepare them for the MAAC.

The game can be watched on ESPN+ with broadcasters Tom Schwan and Danielle Lynch on the call. Live stats can be followed here and all updates will be made through "X" @SienaWLax

Siena (2-6) has split their last four games, picking up wins versus Vermont and at Le Moyne with a loss at then #23 ranked Drexel mixed in with a close defeat in their last outing at Colgate  

As for Fairfield (2-6), it gets back into action after a 12-day layoff when it traveled to #24 Denver and dropped an 18-6 game. The Stags have wins at Boston University and a common opponent in Vermont. But, Fairfield enters on a three-game skid, also dropping their game against common opponents Drexel and versus Army West Point. 

"Use your non-conference as a learning experience so that when you hit conference play—that you hit the ground running," said Siena second-year head coach Danielle Schwan-Tetreault.

"I think that Laura [Field] and I are similar in that mindset. You may be looking at teams that are 2-6, but we are focused on our own teams and the growth that we are having in non-conference play." 

Now, both are curious to know how they stack up in conference play.

Players on the Saints' side who have been in this rivalry have experienced a dose of success albeit against different players. 

Olivia Nicholson scored three goals while Grace Dobrzynski and Kylie Kuhn each scored as well for the Saints.

For returning Stags players, while the likes Maggie Fort and Libby Rowe have long since graduated, Amanda Kozak scored for Fairfield in last season's match up. 

And, new players have emerged. Now, Fairfield is led by Grace Slater (21 goals, 12 assists), Kelly Haggerty (14 goals, seven assists) and Kozak (11 goals, three assists). 

For the Saints, Dobrzynski leads Siena with 12 goals and 10 assists followed by Kelly Logue, who has 12 goals as well with seven assists and Nicholson's 10 goals and one assist. 

The teams have met four times in the postseason since 2019.