FAIRFIELD, CT – For the second time in the past three seasons, Siena Men's Lacrosse will be playing in the MAAC Championship Game and will be attempting to do something it hasn't done since 2014—hoist the MAAC Championship trophy.
The second-seeded Saints (10-4) extended its winning streak to eight consecutive games after Friday's 15-14 thrilling victory over No. 4 Marist on Campus Field.
The current win streak ties the program's longest streak since it won eight games in a row from March 14 through April 21, 2012.
Siena, who entered the week receiving votes in the USILA Coaches Poll, will take on the #16 Pioneers (12-2), who have also won eight consecutive games.
The Saints and Pioneers are scheduled for opening draw on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Broadcasters Jay Alter and Charlotte North will have the call on
ESPNU.
Live stats can be followed
here.
For live updates, highlights and other news, follow Siena Men's Lacrosse on "X"
@SienaLacrosse.
Sacred Heart leads Siena 5-2 in the all-time series history and have won the prior three meetings including this season's 11-10 overtime cliffhanger on March 15 on SHU's home turf.
Siena was led in that game by
Pratt Reynolds, who had four goals while Will Moulton scored three times to lead the Pioneers.
John Murray had the winning goal with 2:50 remaining in the overtime period.
Siena is 13-8 all-time in the MAAC Tournament.
Each team has a two-goal victory against the other in postseason history with Siena defeating SHU 13-11 in 2023 on their home turf while the Pioneers topped the Saints 15-13 in Riverdale in last year's MAAC Semis.
Reynolds, the Saints' senior attack, broke the single-season record for most goals with his two on Thursday to give him 50 for the season.
That broke Tony Asterino's 1979 previously held record of 49 goals scored in a season.
Additionally, senior attack
Ryan McCarthy notched seven points to tie two others for the most points scored by an individual in a single postseason game.
It equaled what Bryan Neufeld did against Jacksonville in 2011 as well as Jack Kiernan's output against Monmouth in a postseason game in 2021.
The Saints are averaging a league-best 14.13 goals per game, 9.00 assists per game, 23.13 points per game as well as the second-best shots on goal per game average (26.20) as well as the league's second-best penalty-killing percentage squad at .744.
The Pioneers have a potent offense as well, ranking second in goals per game (12.64), second in assists per game (7.86), second in points per game (20.50) and are third in shots on goal per game (25.00).
SHU rates as the highest penalty-killing percentage team at .759.
In the face off "X", Siena freshman
Logan Banek won 16-of-24 face offs when he last faced SHU while Pioneers' top face off specialist Luke Romanek was 8-of-23.
Banek is the MAAC's top win percentage taker with those who have taken at least 100 face offs (.628) while Romanek ranks third in the same category at .556.
Protecting the cage, the projected goalkeepers match up features Saints graduate student
Andrew Arcuri (9.79 GAA, .551 save percentage and 166 saves) while the Pioneers counter with All-MAAC First Team selection Alex Pazienza (8.39 GAA, .571 save percentage, and 153 saves).
