LOUDONVILLE, NY – Consistency has returned to the Siena Women's Soccer program.

With consecutive postseason conference tournament appearances as quarterfinalists, the Saints enter 2026 eager to prove their recent success is only the beginning.

"The goal remains the same," said 28^th year Siena head coach Steve Karbowski, who led the Saints to a 9-5-6 overall record including 6-3-3 in the MAAC last season. 

"It's a conference championship. It always is. Go to the NCAA Tournament. We've had teams do that in the past. They know that. They want to be part of that. I want them to be a part of that and feel that experience and excitement." 

The pathway to that and the 47^th season of Siena Women's Soccer kicks off at Power Four ACC member Boston College this Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Newton, MA to mark the earliest regular season-opener in program history. 

Live stats for the match can be followed here: tinyurl.com/pr8r258p

The schools will meet on the pitch for the first time.

Siena returns six starters and four key reserves from a squad that had its fewest defeats in a full season (not including the shortened 2021 season where only nine matches were played due to COVID) since the 2010 season when the Saints won the MAAC Championship and went a program-record 17-4. 

Among them includes junior midfielder Catherine Rogers and senior back Lindsey Harrington, who were both named All-Metro Preseason selections this past Thursday in a vote by the league's head coaches. 

Rogers is coming off a season in which she repeated as a First Team All-MAAC honoree as she ranked tied for fifth in the conference in both scoring (20) and assists (six) and was tied for seventh in goals scored (seven). The Webster, NY native registered a season-high three points on three separate occasions and finished 2025 with a season-high five-match point scoring streak, totaling 10 points (three goals, four assists). Additionally, she was named an ECAC Second Team All-Star for the second consecutive season.

Harrington led the defense by starting at right back in 19 of 20 matches while being a key cog toward the Saints' rock-solid defensive unit that allowed just 0.75 goals per contest and notched 10 shutouts. The energizing player showed her endurance by playing the full 90 minutes in 13 matches. Excelling in the classroom as well, the Coventry, CT native was a MAAC All-Academic Team and Honor Roll section.

Other top returners include three players with prior high honors includes two-time Conference Second Team selection and senior midfielder Abby Daly, junior goalkeeper Cate Burns, and the return of Megan Stowell, who played just 22 minutes last season due to injury, but was a Second Team selection in 2024 and the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2023. 

Daly, a two-way center midfielder, has been a reliable ball winner and player who started all 20 matches last season.

The Pearl River, NY native held a 4.0 GPA for the spring 2026 semester and recorded a career-high 10 points in 2025.  

Burns logged the second most minutes on the team last season with over 1,752 in goal, ranking second in goals against average (0.72) in the MAAC and 35^th nationally, first in saves percentage (.848) in the MAAC and 22^nd nationally, tied for first in shutouts (eight) and 42^nd in the nation and sixth in saves in the conference (78).  

Stowell, a junior forward, could provide further stability to the team with 38 points scored in 37 career matches over the first two seasons of her collegiate career. 

The Saints' offense returns players who scored 24 of their 28 goals scored (.857), but just 17 of their 38 assists (.447) tallied last season. 

Boston College is seeking to improve after coming off a 5-8-5 season with a 1-7-2 mark in the ACC.

The Eagles were chosen to finish 15^th out of 17 teams in the ACC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll.

BC is led by senior forward Sophie Reale, who tallied six goals and an assist last season.

Protecting the net is returning senior captain Olivia Shippee, who totaled 77 saves, an .846 saves percentage and a 0.80 goals-against average with a career-high seven shutouts.