Siena Women’s Soccer will head into its first postseason home match in a decade riding a wave of momentum. The Saints secured the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament by recording their sixth win in their past seven matches with a 1-0 regular season-ending triumph over Canisius in Buffalo. 

 

Siena (9-7-3, 6-2-2) will host its first postseason home match since 2008 – and first-ever MAAC Tournament contest on Siena Field – Sunday vs. No. 6 seed Quinnipiac. Kickoff time for the MAAC Quarterfinals contest will be set Thursday.

 

Rachel Sullivan scored her first collegiate goal for the Saints which have also won six of the past seven meetings vs. Canisius (4-8-5, 1-5-4). Siena held decided advantages in both shots (17-9) and corners (5-1).

 

Meghan Riccardi was taken down in the box in the 27^th minute, setting up Sullivan’s opportunity. The sophomore, who had just checked into the match moments earlier, buried the penalty kick for the decisive tally.

 

The Saints’ stout defense did the rest in tying the program single-season record with their ninth shutout (2015). Dorado made three saves, including a pair of clutch stops back-to-back in the 48^th minute on a penalty kick by Madeline Beaulieu and the rebound attempt off the foot of Emily Czechowski.

 

Individually, Dorado posted her 19^th career shutout to tie her mentor and Siena Athletics Hall of Famer Noel Cox ’05 for the most clean sheets in program history. The junior also tied a program single-season record with her eighth shutout to match Liz Rogan (2015) and Laura Ettinger (2008).

 

Alana Rossi made 11 saves for the Golden Griffins which concluded their 2018 season winless over their final nine matches (0-5-4).

 

Siena will now prepare for its program record sixth consecutive MAAC Tournament appearance and second-ever postseason home match. The Saints battled Fairfield to a scoreless tie before falling in a penalty shootout in the 2008 MAAC Semifinals at the predetermined site of Siena Turf Field.

 

Siena will be looking to seek revenge against a Quinnipiac squad which just two seasons ago ended the Saints’ run in the MAAC Semifinals in New Jersey. The teams played to a scoreless draw during their regular season matchup earlier this fall in the conference opener Sept. 15 in Loudonville. The Saints are undefeated at home in MAAC action this fall, posting a 3-0-2 record.