Herbst's Save Gives Siena Win Over Albany
from press release
ALBANY, N.Y. - Goalkeeper Brent Herbst deflected Brian
Caufield's shot with five seconds remaining as Siena held off
UAlbany, 13-12, on Tuesday, March 2 at John Fallon Field. The
Saints won for the first time in eight meetings since both programs
have played at the Division I level.
Siena (1-2) led 9-8 late in the third quarter, but then pulled away
by scoring three straight times. Bryan Neufeld tallied three of his
four goals in that stretch. He put away a rebound after goalkeeper
John Carroll made the initial save. The sophomore attack scored
twice in a 56-second stretch early in the final stanza for a 12-8
advantage, including a man-up goal after collecting a ground
ball.
UAlbany (0-2) sliced the lead in half when Joe Pompo spun to his
left shoulder and scored unassisted and Matt Johnson worked through
two defenders to send a low shot into the right side of the cage.
The Saints, who were coming off an impressive 8-7 loss to
fourth-ranked Johns Hopkins two days earlier, regained control when
Rocky Bonitatibus' turnover in the midfield led to Ryan Duggan's
fastbreak goal.
The Great Danes closed within 13-12 by finding the net twice in a
23-second span. Brian Caufield, who had two goals and two assists,
connected on a shot behind his head from right of the crease.
Defenseman Anthony Ostrander caused a turnover after a face-off and
that led to Kyle Brunk scoring from the right side with 1:17
remaining.
The drama increased when a UAlbany double-team forced a Siena
miscue and the Great Danes advanced the length of the field.
Caufield fired from just left of the net but Herbst got a piece the
shot and the ball tipped off a defenseman's stick and went over the
cage.
"I had the shot on my stick and he got a piece of it," Caufield
explained. "I wasn't aware of how much time was left. They have a
good team this year and they played better than us."
Siena took a 7-6 lead to the intermission, but the Great Danes got
the equalizer on Dave Brock's man-up goal with just over three
minutes elapsed in the third quarter. The Saints, who dropped a
double-overtime affair in last year's matchup with UAlbany, moved
ahead later in the period on goals by Chris D'Alberti and Shaun
Dunn. Siena's Bryan Hale was brilliant in the face-off circle by
winning 21 of 29 draws.
Herbst finished with 12 saves for the Saints, who won the Metro
Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and made their first-ever
NCAA appearance last year. Duggan and Dunn each had two goals and
one assist. UAlbany's Brock netted three goals, while Johnson
scored a pair and added one assist.
"They moved the ball well and took advantage of our mistakes,"
UAlbany coach Scott Marr said. "Certainly they dominated the face
offs. There is not a team in Division I that you can't beat, or
lose to."
Paw Prints: Brian Caufield extended his
scoring streak to 25 consecutive games, the nation's fifth-longest
streak ... Matt Johnson had a career-high three points ... Dave
Brock matched his career-best for the second straight game with
three goals ... Siena won for the first time in the series since
April 20, 1988, a 13-6 decision ... the Great Danes had won 13 in a
row during that 22-year period.
