Springfield, MA 4:15 Kickoff

Siena University (2-0) 61 - AIC (0-3) 25

This match in Springfield carried the high-stakes charge of early-season league play. Still, as Siena University kicked off its Week 2 Liberty Conference clash against American International College, the Saints wasted no time establishing control of the field. Building on a crisp opening-week performance, Siena found their groove instantly—and never truly let go.

Just sixty seconds after the opening whistle, an AIC obstruction penalty handed Siena their first opportunity. The Saints kicked deep for touch, set up a towering lineout, and drove a powerful maul over the try line, with prop Tiago Roveta powering through to touch down for the opening score. Though the conversion fell short, the statement was clear: Siena held an early 5–0 lead.

Siena's backline quickly joined the fun. At the 10-minute mark, scrum-half Jack Rowley caught the defense shifting and sharply reversed the field. Inside center Jack Burns grabbed the ball in stride and fired a crisp pass out to senior winger Preston Frazier, who sliced into the corner for Siena's second try, pushing the advantage to 10–0. AIC managed to stem the tide momentarily in the 12th minute when a Siena offside allowed the home side's fly-half to drill a 40-meter penalty kick, cutting the lead to 10–3.

However, Siena's forward pack was simply too dominant at the set piece. In the 18th minute, awarded a penalty eight meters from the goal line, Siena declined the easy kick and opted for a scrum. The Saints pack got a massive, disciplined drive going, allowing Number 8 Anthony Guarino to pick from the base and crash over for the try. Freshman Henry Clegg split the uprights on the conversion to extend the lead to 17–3. Eleven minutes later, fullback Lorenzo Cabagna sparked a brilliant attack with a nifty assist to Frazier, who glided in for his second try of the afternoon.

AIC showed resilience in the 33rd minute, working the ball downfield and using a gritty pick-and-go sequence to send their lock (#4) over for a converted try, bringing the score to 22–10. But with the first-half clock ticking away deep in AIC territory, Siena delivered a backbreaking play. On the final set before the break, the Saints' front row—props Shiv Kelly and Tiago Roveta alongside hooker Josh Bostel—outmaneuvered the defense to steal AIC's put-in at the scrum. Rowley pounced on the turn-over, swung the ball down the blindside, and hit Jack Burns in the corner, sending Siena into halftime with a commanding 27–10 lead.

AIC emerged from the halftime break determined to make a game of it. At the 42-minute mark, with Siena threatening, AIC fielded a kicked ball and launched a breathtaking 70-meter counter-attack try. The conversion closed the gap to 27–17.

That spark, however, only served to reawaken Siena's engine.

Freshman Henry Clegg settled the game down, drilling a 35-meter penalty kick at 49 minutes. Though AIC responded with a penalty kick of their own two minutes later to make it 30–20, the rest of the match belonged entirely to the Saints.

Clegg struck again in the 58th minute with a 40-meter penalty kick, stretching the lead to 33–20. Three minutes later, the floodgates opened. Hooker Josh Bostel took a clean feed from Lewis Simpson and grounded a fine try, converted by Clegg to reach the 40-point threshold. At the 65th minute, Clegg turned playmaker, feeding winger Jon Hall for a try before converting it himself to make it 47–20.

Siena's relentless pressure continued without pause. Just two minutes later, Bostel claimed his second try of the day after taking a pass from Harry Ryder, with Clegg adding yet another conversion to push the score to 54–20. In the 76th minute, Jack Burns closed out Siena's offensive showcase by dotting down his second try, and Clegg's final kick brought the Saints past the 60-point milestone.

AIC added a consolation try off a penalty play as the final 80-minute mark hit, but the outcome had long been sealed.

When the referee blew the final whistle, Siena walked off the field with a decisive 61–25 victory. While the scoreboard highlighted an explosive backline, the victory was built up front. Behind an untouchable set-piece effort, special recognition was earned by the second-row pairing of senior Harvey Hogan and freshman Meyer Malherbe, along with the tireless work of flanker Thomas Mann, who together kept Siena in complete command from start to finish.

Siena Lineup and scoring

1 Tiago Roveta '28 -        Chris Byun '29 (65 minutes)
2 Josh Borstel '27 -                 Ian Dobbins '29 (65 minutes)
3 Shiv Kelly '29 -                Jon Kubie '30 (65 minutes)
4 Harvey Hogan '27        -        Clem Waquier '30 (70 minutes)
5 Meyer Mahlerbe '30
6 Thomas Mann '27 -        Vinny Durante '27 (60 minutes)
7 Lewis Simpson '30
8 Anthony Guarino '27
9 Jack Rowley '28 -                Henry Thompson '28 (65 minutes)
10 Henry Clegg '30
11 Preston Frazier '27 -        Colin Doyle '30 (70 minutes)
12 Jack Burns '27
13 Harry Ryder '28
14 Jon Hall '28
15 Lorenzo Cabagna '29 -        Brendan Carroll (70 minutes)

Scoring
Henry Clegg         5 conversions, 2 penalty kicks        16 points
Jack Burns                 2 tries                                         10 points
Josh Borstel                 2 tries                                         10 points
Preston Frazier         2 tries                                         10 points
Joh Hall                 1 try                                         5 points
Tiago Roveta         1 try                                          5 points
Anthony Guarino        1 try                                          5 points