LOUDONVILLE, NY – When third-seeded Siena steps onto Hickey Field to host No. 7 seed Quinnipiac in a first-time postseason meeting between the programs, the Saints will be facing the largest turnaround team from a year ago in the MAAC.
The Bobcats jumped from a 2-13 finish last season to a 10-7 mark thus far this year under second-year head coach Jordan Christopher.
Possessing one of the MAAC's most potent offenses, Quinnipiac enters averaging a league-best 13.53 goals per game on 28.82 shots per game.
On the opposing sideline, the Saints (8-8) have been the hottest teams in the conference, winning all six games in the month of April and have produced 13.33 goals per game during this stretch.
Broadcasters Chris Watson and Tom Schwan will have the call on ESPN+ at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Live stats can be followed
here and all updates will be made through "X"
@SienaWLax.
Making their 12
th overall MAAC Postseason appearance, Siena is 7-11 in MAAC postseason games and have made the playoffs in six consecutive seasons excluding the Covid year that cancelled the tournament.
The Saints have at least reached the MAAC Semifinals in each of those seasons including MAAC Championship Game appearances in odd-numbered years 2019, 2021 and 2023.
This is the second consecutive playoff appearance for Saints head coach
Danielle Schwan-Tetreault.
Quinnipiac last made the MAAC Postseason in 2023 and defeated Canisius 10-4 before losing to Fairfield 14-7 in the MAAC Semifinal Round. Prior to that, the Bobcats played in the NEC.
The Bobcats advanced after defeating No. 6 Sacred Heart 16-11 on Friday at Hickey Field in a MAAC First Round game.
Sisters Mia and EllaGrace Delmond combined for 10 points while Abby Wise (three goals, two assists) and Cate Bendowksi (two goals, two assists) also had productive days. MAAC Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year Shannon Aldean made five saves in net.
Siena leads the all-time series with Quinnipiac 9-6 and defeated them in six consecutive meetings dating back to 2018 including last year's 15-12 win over them in Hamden, CT.
Saints' freshman goalkeeper
McAllister Salter has started each of the last six games, in which Siena has been undefeated, boosting her record to 6-0. In conference games only, the Tappan, NY native ranks fourth in goals-against average at 9.18, fifth in save percentage at .449 and is 10
th in saves per game at 6.86.
For the Saints' offense, production has been split among a trio of players with MAAC First Team selection
Grace Dobrzynski leading Siena with 25 goals and 28 assists followed by
Kelly Logue, who has 27 goals as well with 17 assists, and
Olivia Nicholson, who leads the team in goals scored with 29.
The game will feature two of the better draw controllers in the conference with sophomore
Cassidy Bonura (76 draw controls, ranks third in the MAAC with 4.75 per contest) dueling it out with the Bobcats' main possession controller in junior Sophia Coan (4.35 per contest).
In between the pipes, Shannon Aldean was named both the MAAC Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year after a season in which freshman led the MAAC in saves per game (9.79), was second in save percentage (.477) and was fourth in goals-against average (11.49).
Defensively, the Bobcats' Caelan O'Connor (2.14 caused turnovers per game in conference play) and the Saints'
Mikayla Cooke (1.63 caused turnovers per game in conference play) have been two of the MAAC's biggest disruptors for offenses to mind.
If Siena wins, it will advance to Emmitsburg, MD where it will play No. 2 Fairfield on Friday at 4 p.m. in a MAAC Semifinal.
If Quinnipiac wins and Iona defeats Rider, Quinnipiac would play at No. 1 Mount St. Mary's at 12 p.m. on Friday in a MAAC Semifinal.
If No. 8 Rider defeats No. 4 Iona and No. 7 Quinnipiac beats No. 3 Siena, then No. 7 Quinnipiac would play against Fairfield.
