Canisius Faces Siena in MAAC Women's Soccer Final Today
MAAC Sports
Baltimore, Md. - Top-seeded Canisius College will face third-seeded Siena College in the final match of the 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Women's Soccer Championship. Game time is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start at the Ridley Athletic Complex on the campus for Loyola University Maryland.
Both programs are vying for their first-ever MAAC Women's Soccer Championship title. Siena's last appearance in the final game came in 2006, when the Saints fell to Niagara, 2-1. Their other championship game appearance was in 1996, when Loyola claimed a 2-0 victory over Siena. Canisius' only other appearance in the title match was in 1994, when Loyola won its first MAAC title with a 2-1 victory.
Canisius advanced to this year's championship game with a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Rider University on Friday, November 5. MAAC Rookie of the Year Brianna Smith scored the lone goal of the match in the 28th minute, netting a cross from the left outside by Jenny Griffin into the far post. Senior goalie Lesley Ivinac made six saves in goal for the Griffs.
Siena reached its third MAAC Championship game with a 4-2 win over second-seeded Marist College on Friday evening. Down 1-0 going into the second half, junior midfielder Lindsay Tegas knocked in a shot 15 yards out on the left side in the 60th minute, aided by forwards Caitlin Cahalan and Brittany Pfaff. Senior midfielder Tabitha Tice then lifted the Saints to a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute, converting a hard shot from 20 yards out after receiving a pass from the top of the box from Cahalan. Pfaff followed with her own goal nine minutes later, ripping a shot from the top of the box to make it a 3-1 contest. Siena's final goal of the night came from junior midfielder Ashleigh Barone, who stole a pass from a Marist defender and sent in the ball into the center of the net. Senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Barna recorded two saves in goal for Siena.
Fans can follow along online via Live Stats and the MAAC web stream.
The winner of today's match will earn the MAAC's automatic bid the 2010 NCAA® Women's College Cup. The tournament bracket will be announced on Monday, November 8 at approximately 4:30 p.m. on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network.