LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Senior Tom Allen tallied three points and sophomore goalkeeper Gianni Carillo made a career-high seven saves to record his first collegiate clean sheet as Siena Soccer shut out Manhattan 2-0 in the MAAC opener Saturday afternoon at Siena Turf Field. Sophomore striker Alexander Tejera also scored for the Saints which ran their home unbeaten streak to 11 (7-0-4).

Kicking off their 27^th MAAC season, Siena (2-5-2, 1-0) took control of the match early scoring both of their goals in a dominant first 19 minutes. The Saints had numerous opportunities early with six shots and six corners within that span and took advantage.

Siena opened the scoring in the seventh minute when junior midfielder David Itoafa played a perfect long ball over the top. Allen out-ran his defender and slipped his shot past the keeper and inside the far right post. The score would ultimately prove to be Allen’s fifth career game-winning goal, tying him for the third most winners in program history.

Twelve minutes later Allen again was at the center of the action. His corner kick from the right found the head of Tejera who finished his first score of the year. The helper marked the 14^th career assist for Allen, moving him into a tie for fourth on the program’s all-time charts. Allen has notched a team-high 14 points during the Saints’ 11-match Siena Turf Field unbeaten streak in which Siena has now outscored its opponents 18-7.

Manhattan (0-5-1, 0-1) out-shot the Saints 14-10 overall including 8-3 in the second half, but couldn’t solve Carillo. The first-year keeper had his two most impressive saves in the final minute, when he stopped Niels Kirch’s penalty kick and then smothered the rebound bid from Timmy O’Driscoll as the Saints improved to an impressive 18-5-5 all-time against the Jaspers and are now unbeaten in 11 of the last 12 matchups (9-1-2).

Siena held a 7-2 margin in corners kicks in a physical match that featured 29 combined fouls as the Saints won their conference home opener for the fourth consecutive season.

Siena continues conference play at home Wednesday with a 3 p.m. kickoff against Niagara. 

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