LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Junior Rosero netted the game-tying goal in the 83^rd minute as Siena Soccer battled back to tie America East Preseason co-favorite Hartford 1-1 in the home opener Tuesday afternoon. After achieving the program’s first undefeated home record last season, the Saints extended their Siena Turf Field unbeaten streak to nine (6-0-3).

Both teams had a number of scoring opportunities throughout as Siena (0-1-1) held a 24-16 edge in shots and harbored a 10-6 margin in corners.

Siena controlled the tempo early, out-shooting Hartford (0-0-2) 12-4 in the first half, but it was the Hawks that would find the early goal. Just over six minutes into match Jeff Tryon sent a long, arcing throw in from the left into the box and Javoni Simms finished to give Hartford the quick 1-0 advantage.

Despite being forced to fight back almost right from the start against a quality opponent on an afternoon where the thermometer threatened to touch 90, the Saints continue to battle back and slowly chip away and it paid off.

With little more than seven minutes remaining in regulation, a scoring opportunity resulted in Siena being awarded an indirect kick in the box. With almost the entirety of Hartford’s squad forming a wall just five yards away covering the goal line, junior midfielder Uros Antic took the touch to Rosero who blasted the shot off a defender and it trickled through into the goal.

Siena gained another advantage just three minutes into overtime when Hartford’s Rohan Roye was sent off after his second yellow card as the Saints would hold an 11-on-10 advantage for the final 17 minutes. The physical affair featured a combined 35 fouls and seven yellow cards were issued.

But the Saints could not capitalize as the match ended in a draw as Siena nonetheless moved to a solid 6-2-3 in its last 11 home openers.

Sophomore goalkeeper Gianni Carillo made two of his three saves during the overtime periods in his first collegiate start for the Saints, while his counterpart David MacKinnon recorded four of his five saves during the first half for Hartford.

The Saints return to action Saturday when they host New Hampshire for a 1 p.m. kickoff.  

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