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.

Siena 13, UAlbany 12 (Mar 02, 2010, Albany, N.Y.)

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Siena vs Albany (Mar 02, 2010 at Albany, N.Y.)