LOUDONVILLE, NY – The defending MAAC champion Siena Men's Lacrosse team will begin its' defense of the crown when the Saints open its 2026 season at #16 / #17 Boston University on Friday at 4 p.m. from Nickerson Field. 

The game, originally scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., moved up one day due to the weather forecast calling for even more frigid temperatures and snow in the Boston area this weekend. 

Siena returns an experienced roster of 34 returners with high expectations once again as the Saints were named the MAAC Preseason Favorites in a vote by the conference's head coaches and are receiving votes both in the USILA Preseason Men's Division I Coaches Poll and the KANE Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. 

The Terriers (0-1) are coming off a successful season as well in which it went 11-5 last season and defeated Lafayette in the Patriot League Semifinals before falling to Colgate for the PL Championship.
Both Colgate and Lafayette were also receiving votes in the USILA and KANE Inside Lacrosse polls.

The Terriers dropped its opener against #2 / #3 Syracuse 13-6 this past Sunday. 

The matchup is expected to be a great test from the onset as Siena will officially open its 63rd varsity season. Last year's battle was a closely contested 9-7 win for the Terriers in Loudonville.

"We want to fill (our) non-conference (schedule) with teams that are going to challenge you," said coach Cox, who begins his first season as head coach and eighth season with the program after serving as both an associate head coach and top assistant coach with the program.

"We know who we are in the MAAC. For a lot of these conferences, it's your at-large (resume) that will get you in the tournament. The MAAC is very competitive. Any one can get you on any given day, but if we come out motivated, prepared and ready to go-I know we'll put a good product out there."

The backdrop of the season has the team absorbing and mourning the loss of ECAC and MAAC Coach of the Year Liam Gleason, who tragically passed away on December 3 from an accident.

"Cox Cox had done a really good job of maintaining that effect and attitude that coach G would want to see," said junior midfielder Patrick Radomski.

"Just be grateful to be on this field every day is what coach G would tell us every day. Don't take this for granted." 

Securing the program's fourth MAAC Championship has the team knowing that they'll be targeted by other teams this season, but they have welcomed that challenge as well. 

Four players on the Saints were selected to the All-MAAC Preseason Team with nods to Radomski, senior midfielder Travis Fry, senior defensive midfielder Liam Lennon and sophomore faceoff specialist Logan Banek.

Boston is led by sophomore attack Timothy Shannehan, who scored twice in the opener as well as senior attack Jimmy Kohr, who had a goal and an assist.

The goal was the 50^th of his career and 17^th consecutive game in which he has scored dating back to last season. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Phillips made 12 saves in his first collegiate start. 

On defense, senior Connor Kehm and junior Jackson Matthews led BU with two caused turnovers apiece and Kehm added five ground balls. 

The game can be watched on ESPN+. Live stats can be followed here.  Terriers All-Access will also offer an audio broadcast here.

For live updates, highlights and other news, follow Siena Men's Lacrosse on "X" @SienaLacrosse.