Marist University Athletics

(1-15, 0-8 MAAC)

1st 2nd F  Siena  5 1    6     Marist   6  13  19  Box Score | Postgame Video

(9-8, 5-3 MAAC)

	Stat Comparison Siena  Marist  Goals 6  19   Shots 27  34   Assists 0  12   Draw Controls  12   15   Caused Turnovers  8   8   Ground Balls 16  26   Turnovers 12  13   Saves 11  9
	Individual Leaders  Stat Siena  Marist  Goals Deaken, 3  Wagner, 5   Assists None  O. Pitonzo, 6   Draw Controls Young, 6  Wagner, 11   Caused Turnovers Conway and Brennan, 2  Cerrone, 4   Ground Balls Horton, 5  A. Pitonzo, 5   Saves Horton, 11  Witczak, 9
	Up Next Who: #6 Quinnipiac  When: Sat. April 29 - 1 p.m.  Where: Tenney Stadium MAAC.TV | Full Schedule | Tickets

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - The Marist women's lacrosse team closed out its 2017 regular season with a 19-6 victory over Siena on April 26 in Tenney Stadium. Wednesday afternoon's victory secured the Red Foxes a hosting bid in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, as they will be the no. 3 seed.

Niagara's loss to Canisius in the final MAAC regular season game along with the Red Foxes' win created a matchup with no. 6 Quinnipiac at 1 p.m. April 29.

Marist ended the regular season with a 9-8 record overall, including 5-3 in the MAAC. The Saints went 1-15 overall and 0-8 in conference competition.

In today's game Marist's 19 goals were a season high and four Red Foxes had hat tricks. Sophomore Hailey Wagner led the offense with five goals and won 11 draw controls to bring her season total to 106. Freshman Samantha Mehalick and senior Natalie Bonaroti each netted three goals, while sophomore Caroline Polymeros made a spot start and put up four points. Polymeros' hat trick came in the second half of play.  

Senior Olivia Pitonzo dished out six assists to bring her season point total to 63, which is tied for seventh most in a single season in program history.  

Both teams traded goals early on before Siena freshman Alexis Deaken hit the back of the net twice to put the Saints ahead 4-2 by the 11:58 mark. Mehalick retailiated with two scores of her own that began a 4-0 run for the Red Foxes, but Siena hung around with the help freshman Laura Kesnig, who scored with 23 seconds to go in the first stanza. The Red Foxes had the 6-5 edge at halftime. Both teams had fired 16 shots apiece at that point.

Marist erupted in the second half, outscoring the Saints 13-1 and winning 11 draw controls to Siena's four. The scoring rolled on thanks to Olivia Pitonzo dishing another dime, this time to sophomore Stefanie Wenz at the 24:29 mark of the second stanza.

Senior Abigail Witczak made six saves in the second half and Marist's defense limited Siena to seven shots on goal. Marist ended the afternoon outshooting its arch MAAC rival, 34-27, and converted on four of its seven free position attempts.  

Deaken netted three goals on five shots for Siena. On defense she had two draw controls, a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover.  

Marist will face no. 6 Quinnipiac in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at 1 p.m. April 29 in Tenney Stadium.