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2009 Review
Sienamade history in 2009, winning its firstMAAC Championship and earning its first NCAA Tournament bid in program history. The Saints wrapped up their third consecutive 10-win campaign in the regular-season finale, a win that completed their perfect 8-0 league record. In Siena’s previous game, the Saints clinched the MAAC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the MAAC Tournament with a 13-7 win at Marist. Siena had only made one other trip to the MAAC Tournament since joining the league in 1996. In 2007, the regular-season champs and No. 1 seeded Saints were upset by No. 4 Providence in the semifinals. Two years later, the Saints reached their goal. They defeated Providence in a convincing 7-1 semifinal win. Junior goalkeeper Brent Herbst showed he belonged in discussion with the top netminders in the nation, making eight saves and holding a shutout through the first 44 minutes of play. The defense forced an uncharacteristic 24 Providence turnovers and killed off all three extra-man situations.
With 16 seniors and the deepest the team’s ever been, Siena wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away. The Saints clashed with Manhattan for the MAAC Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAATournament. Siena found a way to win, spurred on by the superlative play of Herbst. He made 14 saves, including two stops with starting defensemen Chris Viviano and Anthony Nunziata in the penalty box for 60 seconds at the same time.
Herbst was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, allowing a stingy 3.06 GAA and stopping 78.6%of the shots he faced in the two games. Senior midfielder Kenny Mazzone kick- started the offense with two assists on the game’s first four goals. Siena opened up a 5-0 lead before Manhattan broke through 35 seconds before halftime. The Saints won 9-5 and the team’s 16 seniors put their stamp on Siena lacrosse forever.
The Saints opened their season on February 20 at No. 4 ranked Johns Hopkins, a perennial power, in a primetime nationally televised game on ESPNU. Siena shocked the Blue Jays, opening up a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter behind two goals from freshman Bryan Neufeld and one from junior transfer Jordan Loftus. Newcomersmade an immediate impact for Siena and showed just a snapshot of what they would contribute throughout the season. Hopkins rallied with nine straight goals to defeat the Saints 11-3, but left the field respecting the new kids on the block.
Siena followed the Hopkins game with its home opener against cross-town rival UAlbany. The Saints hadn’t defeated UAlbany since the Great Danes moved up to Division I in 2000. Siena outplayed UAlbany in the February 25 game and led 7-6 with time winding down. Goalie Brent Herbst made what should have been a game-saving stop with 11 seconds left in regulation, but
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