Saints Alive! Siena Women's Soccer scored twice in the final 2:02 to secure a miraculous 2-1 victory over Merrimack Wednesday night in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Briana Neary proved to be the hero, setting up the tying tally before burying the match-winner – her first goal of season – with only 16.6 seconds remaining to send Siena (11-3-1, 7-2) to the program's first five-match win streak in nine years (Sept. 27 – Oct. 11, 2017).
Merrimack (2-10-4, 0-7-3) controlled play most of the second half, and broke through on an Emma Cengarle score in the 70
th minute.
With the situation looking dire in the waning moments, senior captain
Abby Daly continued her long history of late-match dramatics, finishing a feed from Neary just two seconds shy of the 89
th minute for the equalizer.
But the Saints weren't content to settle for just one point, they took all three in a potentially season-defining victory.
A short cross in the penalty area was headed by a defender out to Neary just inside the top of the 18. She settled, took a step to her right and threaded the ball through a pair of defenders across inside the top left corner as Siena snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The unlikely triumph marks the first time the Saints have reached 11 victories in eight years (2018), while Siena has now equaled a program record with seven conference wins (2004, 2016, 2024) with still three matches to go. The Saints end a wild night on 21 points – tied for third with Fairfield – and just three points behind current co-frontrunners Niagara and Quinnipiac, against both of whom Siena has a match in hand.
The Saints held an 18-17 edge in shots in a wide-open affair, while the Warriors harbored a 5-3 margin in corners.
Cate Burns made six saves, including a pair of highlight-reel worthy stops for Siena.
Addison Israel stopped nine shots in being saddled with the tough-luck loss for Merrimack, which is now winless over its last 12 matches (0-8-3) to remain in the basement of the Metro Standings.
The Saints return home to host Iona for Senior Day Saturday on Hickey Field. The program will honor its five-member senior class at 12:45 p.m., with kickoff to follow at 1 p.m.
