Siena Downs Providence, 7-1 in MAAC Semifinal Action
MAAC Sports
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 for the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament. 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.