Siena soccer upsets #22 Rider at home

LOUDONVILLE– For the fourth time in program history and second time under Siena Men’s Soccer Head Coach Cesar Markovic, Siena has defeated a nationally ranked opponent as they took down No. 22 Rider 2-1. The Saints snapped the Broncs seven-match win streak and handed Rider their first conference loss of the season.

The Saints have now beaten four ranked opponents and two under head coach Markovic, with their last victory coming against #23 Boston University on September 3, 2014 when the Saints won 1-0. Siena has also defeated #15 Ohio State (1-0) and #16 Iona (1-0, OT) both in 2011.

Siena and Rider’s matchup has mirrored the last two MAAC Semifinal matches where the Broncs have knocked the Saints out of the tournament and gone on to become two-time MAAC Tournament Champions. The Saints last defeated Rider in 2013 when they took home a 3-2 victory on Siena Turf Field.

After spending the first 25 minutes of the match without either team recording a shot, Jesse Rodrigues put the Saints up 1-0 in the 33rd minute on the Saints (3-4-7, 1-1-4 MAAC) first shot of the match. At the half, the score would remain in favor of Siena ahead of Rider (10-3, 5-1 MAAC) 1-0. The shots would be tied at four a piece.

Conor McGlynn added an insurance goal in the 75th minute with a pass right up the middle from Alejandro Riquelme past all Rider defenders to put the Saints up 2-0. With just under five minutes left in the match, the Broncs got on the scoreboard as Aaron Gabriel scored his third goal of the season. The Saints would hold off the Broncs and take home their first MAAC victory of the season 2-1 over Rider.

Siena continues their three-match homestand on Saturday, October 21 as the Saints host Manhattan for senior day. Match is set to begin at 1 p.m.