FAIRFIELD, CT, (Nov. 16, 2025) – Siena University captured the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Soccer Championship title on Sunday afternoon at Park Ave Field in Fairfield, CT. The championship was the first ever in Siena program history.
No. 2 Siena – 2 | No. 1 Sacred Heart – 1
Park Ave Field | FAIRFIELD, CT
Box Score
No. 2 Siena (9-5-4) defeated No. 1 Sacred Heart (9-4-5), 2-1 to secure the 2025 Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday.
During the first 45 minutes of action, neither team found the back of the net, but top-seeded Sacred Heart was the more active unit, outshooting Siena 9-2. Five of the Pioneers’ shots were on goal, while the Saints’ two shots were both on target.
In the second half, action picked up and both teams produced both offense and defense over the final 45 minutes of the championship match. It didn’t take long for Siena to strike first, scoring just five minutes into the half in the 50
th minute. MAAC Rookie of the Year Martin Piedeleu sent a cross into the box, finding Lucas Almeida who tapped in the first goal for the Saints, putting them ahead 1-0. The Saints held on to the one goal lead for the next 28 minutes. At the 78 minute mark, Sacred Heart would commit a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick for Siena. Piedeleu would step to the PK line and send a shot to the low right, just past the arm of diving 2025 MAAC Golden Glove winner Luca Marinelli, doubling up the score and giving the Saints a two-goal cushion. Trailing by a pair of goals, Sacred Heart ratcheted up its attack and scored just one minute later in the 79
th minute. Their goal was scored by Brady Poor to the low center part of the net with the assist coming from David Garcia Gallego.
With the score remaining 2-1 in favor of Siena, Sacred Heart continued its push to find the equalizer, getting off six more shots over the game’s next eight minutes, but none of the attempts were successful. Late in the match with just 0.52 seconds reading on the scoreboard, the Saints were called for a foul in the box, leading to a penalty kick for the Pios. With an opportunity to knot the game up late, Ivan Morcillo’s took the PK for the Pioneers, but Siena’s goalkeeper Bennet Glinder made the diving save to stop the game-tying goal and preserve the victory for the Siena Saints.
Siena Notes and Notables
- Siena finished with seven shots, four shots on goal, and two goals.
- The Saints took zero corner kicks.
- Piedeleu was Siena’s top scorer in the victory, tallying three points on one goal and one assist.
- Almeida was the other goal scorer for the Saints, converting on his only shot attempt.
- Leading Siena in shots were the duo of Lee Mara and Eric Svensson each taking two shots.
- In goal, Glinder finished with a career-high nine saves in the win, leading to Championship MVP honors.
- Siena extended its winning streak to four games and holds an 8-1-4 record since late September.
- In addition to the MAAC Championship title being the first in program history for Siena, Sunday’s championship game was also the first appearance in program history for the team.
Sacred Heart Notes and Notables
- Sacred Heart dominated the time with possession in the match.
- The Pios more than tripled up Siena in shots (22-7) and had an advantage in shots on goal (11-4).
- Sacred Heart had a 7-0 corner kicks edge as well.
- Danny Istambouli led the Pioneers with five shots (two on goal).
- Eli Stein was next with four shots and one coming on goal.
- Sacred Hearts lone goal scorer, Poor and Javier Lopez Cayuela each took three shots with Lopez Cayuela having two shots on goal while Poor’s only shot on goal was successful.
- Garcia Gallego added two shots and accounted for Sacred Heart’s only assist in the game.
- Marinelli made two saves for the Pioneers in net.
- The setback for Sacred Heart was the first against a MAAC opponent this season and the first at home in 2025.
Siena earns the MAAC automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The Saints will find out their opponent during the Division I NCAA men's soccer selection show on Monday, November 17 at 1 p.m. ET. The selection show can be streamed live on
NCAA.com.
| 2025 MAAC Men’s Soccer All-Championship Team |
| Sean Albritton |
Fairfield |
| Cameron Gerber |
Fairfield |
| Storm Schmidt Hollensted |
Iona |
| Alvaro Maneiro |
Iona |
| David Garcia Gallego |
Sacred Heart |
| Danny Istambouli |
Sacred Heart |
| Ivan Morcillo |
Sacred Heart |
| Martin Piedeleu |
Siena |
| Thomas Sams |
Siena |
| Tomislav Vrdoljak |
Siena |
| Bennet Glinder (MVP) |
Siena |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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