POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Coming off of a hard western New York road trip last weekend, the Red Foxes came out looking to secure this first MAAC win of the season in their first conference home game of 2011. The combination of junior Stephan Brossard (Port Washington, N.Y.) on offense and grad student Steve Skonieczny (LaGrangeville, N.Y.) in net made sure that it happened. Brossard netted the game-winning goal in the 81st minute, while Skonieczny posted his fifth clean sheet of the season.
Starting the game without three of their regular starters, the Red Foxes took some time to feel out their opponent and what their own strengths would be with the new personnel. Siena initially took advantage of this as the Saints were able to register the first shot on a goal, a Matt Turcio strike in the 13th minute that Skonieczny smothered without issue.
The play flowed back and forth for much of the first half, as each team had opportunities on offense.
Marist put together a 10 minute span of play down the stretch of the first where they took four shots, two of which were on goal. The team's best two chances were a Krystian Witkowski (Rochester, N.Y.) shot in the 37th minute and a Brossard header in the 40th. Off of a corner kick and a consequential Siena clearing attempt, Witkowski intercepted the pass and blasted a shot from 25 yards that required a diving save from Siena's goalkeeper Jack Binks. Brossard tried to beat Binks with a header off of a Anthony Rozmus (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) cross, unfortunately for the Red Foxes the ball flew just wide of the net.
In the second half both teams fought even harder for the first goal of the game. Brossard spear-headed the Marist attack as he took three of the team's first four shots of the half. Skonieczny suppressed numerous Siena chances, either via the save of a Falko Friedrichs' header or the intercepting of crosses into the box.
Coming off the bench to replace an injured teammate, Rozmus made the most of his time on the field and played a pivotal role in the eventual game-winning goal. After taking a pass from freshman Matt Wendelken (Massapequa, N.Y.), the junior midfielder dribbled the ball towards the end-line leading the Siena defenders towards him before quickly turning the corner and whipping a cross in to a wide-open Brossard, who volleyed in the ball from six yards out for his team-leading sixth goal of the year at 80:25.
Marist contained the Saints for the final 9:35 of the contest to earn their fifth shutout of the season with the 1-0 victory.
For the match, Marist outshot Siena 14-9, with the Red Foxes holding a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Skonieczny made two saves to collect his fifth win of 2011.
Marist improves to 5-3-4, 1-1-1 in MAAC play, while Siena drops to 3-6-1, 0-2-1 in the MAAC.
After the game head coach Matt Viggiano remarked that "this was a tough, gritty win for the team. After [Alex] George went down in the first half, we had a team out there that was short four regular starters. I was real happy with the way we adjusted and continued fighting hard. Siena is a very good team and I'm real pleased to get this league win."
The Red Foxes will next be in action on Friday, Oct. 14 when they host Iona at 7 p.m.
