Siena Wins the 2009 MAAC Men's Lacrosse Championship
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. ? Siena College junior goalkeeper Brent Herbst made 14 saves and fellow junior Shaun Dunn scored three times as the top-seeded Saints defeated Manhattan9-5 to claim the 2009 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Sunday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, N.Y. The qualifies Siena (12-5) for the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Tournament, with the full tournament field being announced Sunday night at 9 p.m., on ESPNU.
The MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League title is the first in Siena’s history. The Saints, who also claimed the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League’s regular season crown, have now won 10 straight dating back to March 21.
Siena scored the game’s first five goals to lead 5-1 at halftime. Siena senior Chris Zarins posted the first goal on the scoreboard with 3:05 left in the first quarter after he took a feed from teammate Kenny Mazzone and beat Manhattan goalie John Geagan for his 19th tally of the season. The Saints scored four times in the second stanza, with Dunn scoring two of those goals 2:21 apart. Dunn’s first goal came on a man-up chance for the Saints and then he shot one past Geagan with 7:24 left in the first half to put Siena up 4-0. Manhattan’s Justin Jensen scored unassisted with 35 ticks left in the second.
In the second half, Manhattan came out firing, but Herbst was up to the task in the Saint’s net. The Jaspers (10-8) posted 20 shots in the game’s final 30 minutes, with Herbst making 10 saves. Manhattan scored the lone goal of the third quarter when Luke Dilillo came from behind the net and scored unassisted. The Saints answered with three-straight goals to make the score 8-2 with 7:59 left in the contest, capped by an unassisted tally by Dunn.
Jordan Loftus had a goal and two assists in the win for Siena, while teammate Chris Viviano was credited with a team-high four ground balls. Jensen had a goal and two assists for the Jaspers in the losing effort with teammates Angelo Marrano and Steve Sternberg being credited with four ground balls apiece.
Herbst was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after he made a total of 22 saves in the two games of the tournament. He was joined on the 2009 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League All-Tournament Team by teammates Mazzone and Dan Mulhal, while Geagan, Marrano and Sal Perrotto served as Manhattan’s representatives. T.C DiBartolo, Brendan Flanagan, Mike Felberg and Ryan Riedl were recognized as Mount St. Mary’s and Providence’s entries on the all-tournament squad.
Game Notes: Siena was making its first appearance in the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship game... The Saints have now won four straight against Manhattan... This marked the fourth time in program history that the Jaspers have played for the league’s title and the team now has a 1-3 record in the championship final... Loftus had six goals and four assists in two games against Manhattan this season... Herbst is now 4-0 all-time against Manhattan.