Team Effort Propels Siena Over Vermont

September 16, 2019

LOUDONVILLE, NY – Playing in just its second home game in the month of September, Siena Men’s Soccer (2-4) used five different point scorers to pick up it’s second-ever win over Vermont (3-3) and its first since 2009. The Saints won a back-and-forth affair for take a 3-2 victory at Hickey Field Monday afternoon.

Looking to snap a three-game losing skid and rebound from a 2-1 loss at Stony Brook Friday night, Siena got on the board in the game’s 10^th minute, with junior Alejandro Riquelme popping a ball over the head of the Vermont goalie following a deflection and a feed from senior Conor McGlynn and sophomore Aaron Martin.

Having won their previous two matches, the Catamounts answered not long after, while continuing to pound the box with shots, with Alex Nagy connecting on a shot from seven yards out after bringing the ball into the penalty circle. Vermont failed to display the Saints’ shot efficiency in the contest, despite holding a 21-9 advantage in shots, including 11-2 in the first half.

Siena took the lead to the locker room in the first half thanks to sophomore Samuel Schwarz’s second goal of the season in the 39^th minute, which came off a shot from the back right of the box following a feed from a cross. Both of the Saints’ first-half shots resulted in goals, with the team scoring on one-third of their attempts on the day.

Following back-and-forth action to begin the second half, Vermont leading goal scorer Rasmus Tobinski netted his fourth of the season in the 63^rd minute off a shot from inside six yards to return the match to a tie.

Siena’s final offensive push same just minutes later, when Martin & Riquelme hooked up with senior Jesse Rodrigues at the top right side of the box in the 69^th minute for the game-winner. The Saints’ defense then withstood a final push from Vermont, with sophomore goalkeeper Greg Monroe blocking a point-blank shot with under a minute remaining to cement the win.

Monroe would finish the contest with six saves in all 90 minutes in-goal, while Riquelme concluded the match with three shots to lead the squad.

Following the win, Siena will head back out for a three-game road trip, facing off against Sacred Heart on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in Connecticut.