LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – An own goal in the 81st minute broke a 1-1 tie and was all the luck that the Fairfield University women's soccer team needed to defeat the Siena Saints 2-1 to open up their conference slate. Alex Madden scored the game-tying goal for the Stags in the 32nd minute to give her a team-high three goals in the campaign, the most by any freshman in the conference.
 
The own goal came on a set piece after a Fairfield (3-4, 1-0 MAAC) player forced a foul near the corner of the box. The free ball was sent into the box, near the corner of the goal where it hit off the head of a Siena (4-4, 0-1 MAAC) player and into the goal.
 
Fairfield had just one shot in the second half, coming off the head of Melanie Hingher, whose attempt went wide. Hingher's true contribution came on the defensive side, where she along with the backline limited the Saints to five shots on target, compared to the 16 the team attempted. Hingher's biggest play came in the 65th minute when a Siena forward dribbled the ball to the middle of the box, but Hingher was able to stick with the striker and clear the trouble.
 
The Saints had one final push in the final minute of the match but Michele Tremblay's shot was blocked for the final Siena shot.
 
For the third time this season, the Stags recorded a comeback victory, starting with Madden's game-tying goal in the 32nd minute. The score came as the Stags' offense was trying to find their rhythm in the match. The Saints took the first five shots and had the first six corner kicks of the match, but the momentum started to shift after Julia McGuire attempted the first Fairfield shot 20 minutes in.
 
Gabby Diodati played a long thru ball that set up a 1v1 opportunity for Madden who was able to finish for her third score of the season. That goal currently ties the rookie for third most in the conference and also places her as the top scoring freshman in the MAAC.
 
Siena came out aggressive and played the first 20 minutes inside their offensive half. Darby D'Angelo headed in a long ball inside the box by Casey Scott for her first score of the season. The Stags' defense helped secure the match despite all the pressure inside the box. Faith Daley stole the ball from a Saints' striker in the middle of the box just minutes before the first goal was scored. Megan DeFeo also picked up a couple of nice saves during the first 45 minutes including a point blank strike by Scott in the 15th minute and Kelsey Horst's attempt late in the half.
 
Fairfield almost broke the draw in the first period after a couple of passes brought the ball a few feet in front of the net, but a Saints' defender was able to block Shannon Ryan from getting to the ball and making a play.
 
DeFeo totaled five saves in the match compared to two for Siena's Dorado. The Saints also out-shot the Stags 16-6 and had a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Fairfield will look to build on the quick start to conference play when they host Iona on Wednesday night at 7pm.