POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — The Siena Women's Lacrosse team put forth a stingy defensive performance in the second half to complete an 11-8 comeback road win at Marist in a critical MAAC game on Wednesday at Tenney Stadium on Leonidoff Field. 

Siena (8-6 overall, 3-3 MAAC) topped the Red Foxes for the eighth time in a row, dating back to 2018. The all-time series lead is now in favor of Marist only by the margin of 17-14. 

Marist (4-10 overall, 3-3 MAAC) rallied back themselves. After the Saints scored the game's first three goals (two by Olivia Nicholson and another from Jenna Pollicino), the Red Foxes led 6-5 at the break behind a hat trick off the stick of Madison Leale, and a goal apiece from Jesse Manger, Anne Shine and Caitlin McNaboe with just four ticks before halftime. 

The Saints' offense kept the pressure on, though, as freshman Hailey Deptula scored twice to open the third quarter scoring as the Saints took back the lead for good as Siena allowed just two goals in the half.

Defensive pressure from Emily Rutledge, Ryann Savage, Cassidy Bonura, Kaitlin Bogucki and Grace Jones aided the Saints in engineering the second half comeback. 

Siena was also bolstered by converting three player-up goals including one each from Connolly and Nicholson in the second half. 

Connolly capitalized on a player-up opportunity at 6:45, increasing the lead to 8–6. The Red Foxes responded with a goal by Manger at 5:20, assisted by Staker, narrowing the gap to 8–7. The Saints regained momentum with Eva Pflomm's goal at 3:11, assisted by Pollicino, followed by Connolly's second goal of the period at 0:40, assisted by Nieman, concluding the quarter with a 10–7 lead.

In the final quarter, the Saints maintained their lead over the Red Foxes, despite several tense moments. Nicholson capitalized on a player-up advantage with a goal at 6:16, assisted by Connolly, bringing her season total to 27 goals. The Red Foxes responded with a goal from Manger at 4:35, assisted by Staker, narrowing the deficit. Throughout the quarter, both teams exchanged possessions and caused turnovers, with critical defensive plays by the Saints' Emily Rutledge and Grace Jones.

The Saints' offense was effective early, with Nicholson scoring the first goal at 9:20, assisted by Pollicino. Pollicino then added another goal at 8:30 with help from Sara Curley. Nicholson struck again at 7:09, this time on a player-up opportunity, assisted by Cassidy Bonura, giving the Saints a 3–0 lead. The Red Foxes responded with two quick goals; Jesse Manger scored at 3:59, assisted by Kathryn Staker, and Madison Leale followed with a player-up goal at 3:08, assisted by Manger, closing the gap to 3–2 by the end of the first quarter.

The Saints and the Red Foxes exchanged goals in a competitive second quarter, with the score tied at 3–3 at the start. Leale opened the scoring with her eighth goal of the season at 10:09, assisted by Staker. The Saints responded when Koehler Nieman found the net at 8:26, marking her 15th goal of the season. Connolly then gave the Saints a brief lead with a goal assisted by Pollicino at 5:31. However, the Red Foxes managed to regain momentum with a goal from Leale at 4:37, followed by Anne Shine's score at 3:14, assisted by Manger. The quarter concluded with a last-second goal by McNaboe, bringing the score to 6–5 in favor of the Red Foxes.

Sydney Hannes led the Saints with nine draw controls while Connolly finished with three goals and one assist. Pollicino added a goal and three assists and Nicholson closed with three goals. 

Siena will be back in action this Saturday when they return home to Hickey Field to take on Iona (3-10 overall, 0-5 MAAC) at 3 p.m. on Senior Day.