LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Lacrosse will look to get back on track on Wednesday when it hosts Merrimack for their home conference opener with a 3 p.m. opening draw set for Hickey Field. 

The Saints, who began 5-0 for their best start in their 30-year program history, will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Warriors, who enter their second season in the MAAC after transitioning from the NEC, have shown improvement. 

After finishing 1-14 in their inaugural MAAC season, Merrimack has started 3-7 this season and features the conference's leader in draw controls in junior Mia Juvelier, who leads with 9.30 draw controls per game. 

Siena (5-4, 0-1 MAAC) is led by junior attack Olivia Nicholson, who has tallied 19 goals, six assists and 21 ground balls.

Siena and Merrimack have only met once with the Saints winning last year's first-time meeting between the schools 10-7 in North Andover, Mass. last April 16.

Nicholson scored three times in that game to lead Siena while Merrimack was led by junior attack Lindsay Atkinson, who had a game-high four goals. 

Atkinson is having another big season for the Warriors as she ranks tied for fourth in the MAAC in goals scored this season with 22, ranks tied for third in points in the conference with 3.60 points per game and is ranked tied for fourth in assists with 14. 

She has 156 career points in 41 career games played. 

Saints sophomore McAllister Salter has been solid in net, winning two MAAC Defensive Player of the Week awards already this season, sporting an 9.20 goals-against-average (fourth in the MAAC), a .438 save percentage (fourth), 60 saves (10th) and 28 ground balls (first).

The Warriors counter with sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Lawrence, who ranks eighth in goals against average (13.38), 12^th in save percentage (.388) and is seventh in saves per game (7.10). 

The game has also brought attention to mental health awareness and is dedicated to Morgan's Message, a 501 (c) (3) that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. The aim is to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone. 

The game is in honor of former Duke women's lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers, who died by suicide in July of 2019 after battling mental health struggles after injury. Morgan's Message was created by her family and former teammates with the mission to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.

For more information on Morgan's life and legacy, and how you can help those with mental health struggles, please visit morgansmessage.org. 

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Tom Schwan on the play-by-play and Lauren Bergin serving as the color commentator. 

Fans can follow along with the corresponding live stats link, while in-game updates will be provided via the women's lacrosse team's official X page @SienaWLAX.  

Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints and #BigDawgs.