LOUDONVILLE, NY – The first day of April was full of unexpected results at Hickey Field, bringing with it a swarm of winter weather and a takedown of the 2021 MAAC Preseason Favorites by the team predicted to finish at the bottom of the league. Siena Men’s Soccer (2-2-1), once again braved through wet weather at home to grind out a win, taking down previously undefeated Saint Peter’s (2-1) by a tally of 3-1 Thursday afternoon at home.

 

Picked to finish 11^th out of as many teams entering the Spring 2021 season, the Saints wrapped up and unblemished 2-0-1 mark at home on the season, marking the first time since 2014 that they have completed a regular season at home without a loss, and the first time since 2015 that they have posted a winning mark on campus.

 

Building off a scoreless draw against Monmouth at home on Sunday, the Green and Gold got on the board near the end of the first half following a relatively quiet period, and ended up putting together three goals over a period of 24 minutes. Just minutes before the intermission, sophomore defender Mark Sojer found the back of the net for the first time in his career, heading in a ball off a left side corner kick from classmate Antonio La Gamba in the 43^rd minute.

 

Ten minutes into the second half with rain continuing to come down, La Gamba tallied his second point in a Siena uniform again off a corner kick in the 56^th minute, which was first received by redshirt-sophomore Antonio Linge at the back post and then headed in by senior defender Jacob Pacheco for his first tally in Green and Gold. First-time goal scorers were not finished in the contest, with sophomore midfielder Svavar Nokkvason skipping in a ball that was deflected following a shot from freshman Jack Mendrysa for his first collegiate score in the 69^th minute.

 

Saint Peter’s finally found the back of the net in the 73^rd minute, with Jordan Jowers pushing a ball to the left side of the net to avoid the shutout. The Saints came out with the win on the day despite being out-shot, 11-9, and garnering just three corner kick opportunities to the Peacocks’ four. Siena junior goalkeeper Greg Monroe collected three saves in the victory, and rounded out a stretch of just over 195 scoreless minutes produced in-goal over the last three matches. The Saints continued their winning ways at home against SPU, having not lost at Hickey Field to their league rivals since 2006 (seven matches).

 

Coming off back-to-back non-losing decisions and currently in third place in the MAAC with five points, Siena will now take to the road for its final two regular season contests. The Saints will head to Iona for a Saturday afternoon bout at 3 PM on April 3 before traveling west to face Niagara on Monday, April 5 at 4 PM.