ALBANY, NY – A valiant effort by the Siena Men's Lacrosse team's first appearance in a NCAA Tournament game in 11 years came up just short after a slow first quarter as the Saints dropped a hard-luck 11-9 defeat to host RV/#19 UAlbany on Wednesday night with a NCAA Opening Round record 3,527 fans in attendance at Casey Stadium. 

UAlbany (10-8) advances to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and will face #1 Cornell (14-1) on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. 

The Saints were outscored 6-2 in the first quarter and had to claw back all throughout the game, getting it as close as 7-6 with 11:17 left in the third quarter on a goal from Conor Hufnagel. 

Siena outscored UAlbany 7-5 from the second quarter onward and the game vacillated between a one goal and four goal lead for the Great Danes.
But the Saints (11-5), were never able to grab a lead. 

Despite that, the game lived up to an intense playoff atmosphere with most of the stands full of purple and green that brought Capital District lacrosse fans together for a big night. 

In the post game press conference, Siena head coach Liam Gleason talked about how the foundation of success was built and how proud he was of his team and their accomplishments this season. 

Siena finished with their most wins in a season since 2014 and had plenty of watershed moments.

Pratt Reynolds' first goal at 8:00 minute mark of the first quarter to give him 169 for his career, breaking Tony Asterino's program record, who played with Siena from 1978-1981. The senior finished with two goals and 170 for his career in a green and gold jersey. 

Ryan McCarthy, the MAAC's top facilitator, also made history by becoming the program's single-season record holder for the most assists with three helpers in the first half with 49, breaking Richie Hurley's mark that was set in 2014.  McCarthy, another senior, finished with five points (one goal, four assists).

And, Logan Banek, the MAAC's Rookie of the Year, Face off Specialist of the Year and MAAC First Team selection earned eight face off wins, supplanting Casey Dowd's previous single-season record of 230 face off wins in 2014. 

Senior Conor Hufnagel recorded the first hat trick for a Saint in a NCAA Tournament game, completing it with 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

Despite Siena having its nine-game win streak snapped, it was the longest winning streak it has had since a stretch from March 21, 2009 through May 3, 2009, in which the team won 10 straight games. 

Each team uncharacteristically turned the ball over at a higher than unusual rate with the teams combining for 43 turnovers, but UAlbany was able to find better accuracy.  Siena had advantages for shots 33-30, and 20-15 for shots on goal.

The Great Danes were led by Ryan Doherty, who had three goals. Silas Richmond had two goals and three assists.