EDISON, NJ (Apr. 26, 2026) – No. 5 Siena University and No. 6 Quinnipiac University pulled off upset wins in each of its respective contest in the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Championship first round on Sunday afternoon. The Saints scored a game-winner with 13 seconds left to take down No. 4 Mount St. Mary’s University and the Bobcats knocked-off No. 3 Canisius University 13-11.
No. 6 Quinnipiac – 13 | No. 3 Canisius – 11
Demske Sports Complex | BUFFALO, NY
Box Score
Powered by a 10-goal first half, No. 6 Quinnipiac used a wire-to-wire win to defeat No. 3 Canisius, 13-11.
The Bobcats scored the game’s first three goals, highlighted by a tally in the first minute of play by Emma Miller-Ayala. Canisius would add a pair to cut its deficit to one, but the Bobcats responded with two goals of their own to gain a 5-2 lead. The Golden Griffins once again got within a single point midway through the second quarter, but Quinnipiac would go on a 5-1 run over the final 10 minutes of the quarter, to take a commanding 10-5 lead into the locker room.
In the third quarter, Canisius made a valiant effort, producing six goals to just one by Quinnipiac, which was spearheaded by a 4-0 rally to cap off the third period. Standing at a one point game (11-10), the Bobcats scored two fourth quarter goals while holding the Griffs to one, helping secure the victory.
Quinnipiac Notes and Notables
- It was a full team effort for Quinnipiac as eight different players scored a goal, with five netting two goals each.
- Two-goal scorers for the Bobcats included Miller-Ayala, Brie Provenzano, Anna Givens, Cate Bendowski, and Peyton Choma.
- Bendowski and Choma also added one assist apiece to go along with the goals to lead the team with three points.
- Quinnipiac had 18 shots on goal, scoring on 13 of the on target shot attempts.
- The Bobcats won 16 draw controls, with Miller-Ayala leading the way with a team-most of seven.
- Anna Givens scooped up a team-high four ground balls.
- In net, Shannon Alden made eight of her 12 saves in the second half to help stave off Canisius’ comeback attempt.
- With the win, the Bobcats reach 10 victories for the second consecutive season.
- Quinnipiac advances to the MAAC Championship semifinal round for the second straight year and for the third time in the last four postseasons.
Canisius Notes and Notables
- Canisius outshot Quinnipiac (30-28) and recorded more shots on goal (19-18).
- Maggie Tifft had a hat trick and was the top goal scorer for the Griffs.
- Makenna Crouse chipped in with a pair of goals and one assist to also account for three points.
- Maddie Fitzgerald and Ashlyn Dhandwar each scored two goals as well.
- Canisius’ two goalkeeper of Isabel Gautreaux and Olivia Licardi combined to make eight saves.
No. 5 Siena – 9 | No. 4 Mount St. Mary’s – 8
Waldron Family Stadium | EMMITSBURG, MD
Box Score
No. 5 Siena used a come from behind effort to upset No. 4 Mount St. Mary’s.
The Mount scored five straight goals by the 6:30 mark of the second quarter to take a dominating 5-1 lead over Siena, before a 5-3 score at halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams exchanged goals, keeping the Mount ahead by two (6-4). With under five to play in the frame, the Saints began a four-goal rally between the end of the third and start of the fourth, that would put them in the lead 8-6. The Mountaineers grinded back, with goals by Morgan Ortega (8:36) and MK Allingham (4:17) to tie the game. In the waning moments, Siena’s Cass Belsito scored the player-up go-ahead goal with just 13 seconds remaining to clinch the win.
Siena Notes and Notables
- Leading the Siena attack was Elizabeth Wamp who had four points from a hat trick and an assist on six shots, while going 2-3 in free position shots.
- The duo of Olivia Nicholson and Cassidy Bonura scored two goals apiece while Bonura also handed out one assist.
- Offensively, the Saints took 23 shots and had 11 shots land on goal.
- Defensively, Siena caused 15 turnovers and scooped up 18 ground balls.
- MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year, McAllister Salter, made eight stops in goal and picked up a team-most five ground balls.
- Siena advances to its seventh straight MAAC semifinal dating back to 2019.
Mount St. Mary’s Notes and Notables
- The MAAC Offensive Player of the year, Brooke Molchanoff, fired off six shots, scoring a pair of goals, while dishing out two assists.
- Haylee Bittinger matched Molchanoff, scoring two goals of her own, on five shots.
- Mackey Fick had three caused turnovers and two ground balls, while Morgan Baird scooped four ground balls to lead the defense.
- Camille Thomas made five saves in goal in the setback.
- Mount St. Mary’s took 22 shots and had 10 shots on goal.
- The Mount won 11 out of 18 draws and picked up 18 ground balls.
The 2026 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship resumes with the semifinal round on Friday, May 1 hosted by No. 1 Fairfield at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium in Fairfield, CT. Fairfield will meet Quinnipiac at 12:00 pm and No. 2 Niagara is set to play Siena at 4:00 pm in the semifinal round.
For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wlax.
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.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on
X,
Facebook,
Instagram and LinkedIn or visit
MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.