Siena Moves One Step Closer to First Bid
from press release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Siena College freshman
Bryan Neufeld scored three goals and added an assist and junior
goalkeeper Brent Herbst made eight saves as the top-seeded Saints
defeated Providence College 7-1 in the first semifinal game of the
2009 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League Championship Friday afternoon
at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, N.Y.
The win advances Siena (11-5) to its first MAAC Men’s
Lacrosse League Championship game, where the team will meet
Manhattan Sunday, May 3, at noon. The loss ends the Friars’
season at 6-10.
Neufeld was one of three Siena players to register multiple points
in the win, with juniors Ryan Duggan and Jordan Loftus each posting
two points apiece in the victory. Neufeld, who was honored as the
2009 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year on
Thursday night, wasted little time putting Siena on the scoreboard
when he took a pass from Duggan in front of the net and beat
Providence goalkeeper Robert Bryan 3:48 into the contest. Siena
stretched its margin to 3-0 with a pair of second quarter goals,
the first coming on the man-advantage with 7:24 left before the
intermission.
Siena captain Kenny Mazzone put his squad up 4-0 just 3:15 seconds
into the third quarter and Neufeld’s second goal of the day
made it 5-0 with 1:53 left in the third stanza. His second goal,
which was his 35th of the season, came off an assist from junior
Bryan Hale. Providence scored its lone goal with 52 ticks left in
the third when sophomore Mike Feldberg beat Herbst high on the
stick-side. Siena wrapped up the defensive struggle with two goals
in the fourth quarter, capped by Shaun Dunn and his unassisted
tally with 4:55 left to play
Herbst, who started the 2009 campaign as an All-America Honorable
Mention by Inside Lacrosse, earned the win in net for Siena to
improve his record on the year to 11-4. Bryan made seven stops in
net for Providence.
Siena junior Scott Montgomery had a team-high four ground balls for
Siena and won five faceoffs during the contest. Ryan Riedl had a
game-high five ground balls for the Friars, while teammate Mike
Bowler was credited with three ground balls in the losing
effort.
Game Notes: Siena improved to 1-1 all-time in MAAC Men’s
Lacrosse League Tournament play... The Saints fell to Providence
when the two schools met in the semifinal round during the 2007
event... The game was Providence’s last MAAC contest –
the school will be joining the Big East Men’s Lacrosse League
at the start of the 2010 season... The meeting between the two
teams was the second in the last six days – the Saints and
Friars closed out the regular season April 25, at Providence with
Siena winning 8-5... Siena has won eight straight and nine of its
last 10 dating back to March 14.
