Despite challenging weather conditions, the Siena women’s lacrosse team delivered an outstanding performance at Hickey Field on Saturday afternoon. Facing off against MAAC newcomer Rider, the Saints achieved a resounding 22-4 victory, setting a new program record for the largest margin of victory in the team’s 28-year history.
Previously, the largest margin of victory had been 17 goals on two occasions. Sarah Irish’s goal in the final moments of the game extended the lead to 18, securing the new record. This remarkable victory also matched the program’s record for most goals scored in a single game, tying the mark set against Hartford on March 13, 2019.
Siena (6-3, 1-0 MAAC) dominated across the board, particularly excelling in draw controls by securing 26 out of 30 as a team. Senior Taryn Asselin set a new single-game program record with 15 draw controls, surpassing her own previous record. Asselin’s outstanding performance was a key factor in Siena’s success, as she had previously tied the record earlier in the season.
Despite Rider’s strong start to the season, featuring top players like Katie Walsh, Siena’s defense held firm, limiting Walsh to just two draw controls and one goal. Offensively, juniors Grace Dobrzynski and Kelly Logue led the charge, with Dobrzynski earning eight points and Logue surpassing 100 career points with six points in the game.
The Saints dominated from the start, establishing a commanding 7-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. They continued their momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Rider 6-2 to lead 13-3 at halftime. Siena maintained their intensity in the second half, outscoring Rider 9-1 to secure the decisive victory.
A total of twelve different Saints contributed to the scoring, including three players achieving hat tricks. On defense, graduate student Jenna Colabufo stood out with four caused turnovers, reaching a milestone of 50 for her career with the Saints.
Despite Rider’s typically high-scoring offense, Siena’s defense held them to just nine shots, with only six on goal. This victory marks Siena’s fourth consecutive win and the fifth in their last six games, with all five victories seeing their opponents held to single-digit scoring.
Siena’s dominant performance showcases their strength as a team and sets a new standard of excellence for the program.
