Siena, UAlbany men lose openers

Both teams get off to slow starts offensively in losses to start season

The Siena men’s lacrosse team was shut out in the first half and couldn’t close the gap in its home opener in a 13-8 loss to Providence, while the UAlbany men’s lacrosse team fell in its first game of the season at No. 17 Cornell, 16-8.

Siena, playing at Hickey Field in Loudonville, didn’t get on the scoreboard until there was 6:04 left in the third quarter and Providence had already racked up 10 goals. Pratt Reynolds scored an unassisted tally for the Saints, his first of two goals on the day.

Christian Watts led the way for Siena with three goals. The Saints outscored the Friars 6-2 in the final quarter.

In Ithaca, the Great Danes also started slowly, trailing 5-0 before tallying their first goal, and 7-3 after one quarter. UAlbany closed the gap to 8-6 at halftime before the Big Red pulled away in the second half.

Freshman Amos Whitcomb led UAlbany with two goals, junior Graydon Hogg scored a goal and had two assists. Faceoff specialist Regan Endres won 15 of 28 draws.

“Tough start going down 5-0,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr. “We’re a very young team. Once we settled in, we fought hard to get to 8-6 at half. In the second half we had too many self-inflicted wounds and the gap widened. We played very well at times and it was a good learning day for a young team. Again, we played hard, now we just need to execute better for longer stretches. I love my group and we will get there.”

Siena plays next at No. 10 Army on Wednesday in West Point. The game is set for a 3 p.m. start.

UAlbany travels to Philadelphia next weekend to face Drexel on Saturday for a noon contest.

The Saints and Great Danes then face each other at 7 p.m. on March 2 at Casey Stadium.