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Tradition The Siena Lacrosse program has reached new heights over the past decade, punctuating an already storied history which spans more than five decades. Former head coach Brian Brecht laid the groundwork and his successor John Svec has continued to lead the program to national prominence. The Saints have captured the program’s first three MAAC Champion ships over the past seven seasons, culminating in the school’s initial NCAA Tournament appearances. Over an eightseason span from 2007-14, Siena won 87 games – which was tied for the eighth most nationally – and included the program’s first two wins over USILA Top-20 opponents. Brent Herbst The Saints have dominated their MAAC competition over this time. From 2007-14 Siena captured six regular-season crowns in an eight-season span which culminated with six consecutive MAAC Championship Game appearances. The Saints went an impressive 48-8 (.857) in MAAC regular-season action over that time and at one point won 20 consecutive league games, marking the fifth longest conference winning streak in NCAA history. Siena also won 15 straight MAAC road games during this stretch, further highlighting a marked improvement for a program which was just 20-66 overall in its first 11 seasons in the league and had never even qualified for the conference tournament. The Saints had not reached these kind of heights in nearly 30 years, dating back to when the program was known as the Indians. Siena went a perfect 12-0 in 1979 to record the program’s only undefeated season and kick start a span where the team posted a 41-4 mark over an historic four-year stretch that made the region sit up and take notice. Tony Asterino, Tom Baldwin and Steve O’Shea cultivated legendary careers over this period in which the trio combined to score a whopping 741 points during their time donning the Green and Gold. Asterino headlined the ultra-talented group, leading the nation in scoring in each of his final three seasons. He finished his Siena career with 304 points – which currently ranks as the ninth highest total in NCAA Division I history – and his 6.47 career points per game average still stands as the NCAA benchmark. However, it would take nearly a quarter century for Siena to not only experience a rebirth, but begin arguably the greatest chapter in the program’s history. With the influx of new offensive talents in Matt Donovan, Chris Zarins, Ryan Duggan and Shaun Dunn, just to name a few, the Saints began their latest run in 2007. This influx of fine student athletes spurred the Saints to prominence, which became evident when Siena upset 17th ranked Loyola for one of the biggest regular-season wins in program history in 2008. 2009 saw the Green and Gold win their first-ever MAAC Tournament title, and as a result, the Saints trekked onward to their debut in NCAA Tournament play. Tony Asterino holds the NCAA Division I record, averaging 6.47 career points per game. Siena’s 1979 team is one of just 13 undefeated teams in NCAA history. 2
Perhaps most notable during that time period, though, was the domination of goalkeeper Brent Herbst. As an upperclassman, Herbst emerged as one of the nation’s premier net-minders, earning two All-America Honorable Mentions and playing in the North/South All-Star Game as a senior. In June of 2010, Herbst became the first Siena lacrosse player to be drafted by Major League Lacrosse, going to the Long Island Lizards with the draft’s 22nd pick. Herbst currently ranks fifth in NCAA history with a 7.02 career goals against average. The 2011 season may have been the most memorable one yet, as the Saints once again cruised to both the MAAC Regular-Season and Tournament Championships and a second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three years. Siena won a program-record 13 games and finished the season ranked No. 20 in both the USILA Coaches’ Poll and Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, marking the first national rankings in school history. A new wave of stars carried the program into the most recent phase of the team’s success, most namely in Bryan Neufeld and Tom Morr who would each leave their own indelible marks on the program. A two-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Neufeld scored more career goals (156) than any other member of the NCAA Division I Class of 2012. A Senior CLASS Award candidate, Neufeld was joined by Morr on the list, who became the first student athlete in Siena College history to be named one of 10 finalists nationally in any sport. Siena advanced to MAAC Championship Game appearances in six consecutive seasons, including the first three years under Svec. After suffering heartbreaking, last-second one-goal losses in the conference title games in both 2012 and 2013, the Saints broke through with their third MAAC Championship in 2014. Attackman Richie Hurley and faceoff specialist Casey Dowd etched their names alongside of some of the program’s all-time greats in leading the Saints to their most recent title. Named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year and the program’s fifth-ever USILA All-American Honorable Mention, Hurley broke the MAAC’s all-time scoring record with 82 points and Siena’s Richie Hurley all-time assists mark with 48. Dowd emerged as not only one of the top faceoff specialists in the nation, but arguably the greatest in program history. He broke Siena’s all-time record for both groundballs and faceoffs won during that junior season and graduated ranking tied for sixth all-time in NCAA history with 472 groundballs and sixth with 772 faceoffs won. MOST NCAA DIvISION I MeN’S LACROSSe WINS (2007-14 – eight Seasons) 1.) Duke 128 2.) Syracuse 101 3.) Cornell 99 Virginia 99 5.) Notre Dame 97 6.) Denver 92 7.) Maryland 90 8.) SIeNA 87 North Carolina 87 10.) Johns Hopkins 86 The Saints have emerged as the team to beat in the MAAC year in and year out, having boasted a 61-16 (.792) overall MAAC record including conference tournament action over the past nine seasons. Siena stickmen have been honored with 59 All-MAAC Selections, as well as 49 spots on the MAAC All-Academic Team. Since 2007, the Saints have boasted five MAAC Offensive Players of the Year, five MAAC Coach of the Year awards, four MAAC Defensive Players of the Year, three MAAC Rookies of the Year and in 2014 the program’s first-ever MAAC Faceoff Specialist of the Year in Dowd. The last decade has established Siena as a prime-time Division I lacrosse program. The Saints have shown they can play with the big boys, as well as dominate a league that rewards its champion with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. With Siena’s recent success has come national respect, and a new winning tradition in Loudonville. Siena’s original men’s lacrosse team 3
Page 1: RECORD BOOK UPDATED THROUGH THE 201
Page 5 and 6: Record Book CAReeR COACHINg ReCORDS
Page 7 and 8: Game-by-Game Results 1964 Record: 4
Page 9 and 10: Game-by-Game Results 1997 Record: 4
Page 11 and 12: Career Leaders The 100-Point Club N
Page 13 and 14: Single-Season Leaders Points Name S
Page 15 and 16: United States Intercollegiate Lacro
Page 17 and 18: Siena Lacrosse in the National Poll
Page 19 and 20: Siena in the NCAA Tournament (Three
Page 21 and 22: Siena Lacrosse Captains 2015 - Rich

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