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This past weekend the Saints kicked off their 2025-26 season on the right foot at home versus Bryant University and Roger Williams University. Friday night the Albany County Hockey Facility lit up as Siena took the opening faceoff against Bryant for their home opener. The Saints lost their previous matchup to the Bulldogs back in 2022 6-1, but that didn’t faze senior Patrick Rowan as he opened the scoring early for the Saints on a shot from the point to make it 1-0. Late in the first Bryant’s Zachary Thompson would make it 1-1, followed by a power play marker early in the second from Kai Konstantino making it 2-1 Bulldogs. From here on out it was pure Saints domination. Siena would go on to score four unanswered goals from junior Tim Robinson (2) as well as freshmen Dominick Oppedisano and Luke Kurdziolek. Oppedisano’s and Kurdziolek’s goals mark the first of many in their young ACHA career. The Saints would go on to win 5-2 with senior netminder Matthew McCarthy taking home the win, and stopping 31 of 33 shots. Defenseman Tim Robinson took home the Player Of The Game nod from his teammates.
The Saints would have minimal rest as they were back at it next day for a 4:30pm puck drop versus the Roger Williams University Hawks. Rowan, showing an early season scoring touch, wasted no time getting the Saints on the board again to give the Saints another 1-0 lead. It is great to see Rowan have this surge of production this early in the season after missing the majority of time last year due to injury. When asked about how it feels to get the team going on back to back nights Rowan said this;
“It feels amazing. I’m happy I can get the boys going and I need to keep focusing on getting pucks through.”
Senior forward Anthony Zappala kept the momentum going for Siena as he scored his first of the year from behind the net to make it 2-0. The Saints would then go quiet until the third, allowing two unanswered goals from the Hawks to tie it at two. With a little over fifteen minutes left in the third, sophomore Assistant Captain Daalten DeMarsh was able to net his first of the year to give the Saints a 3-2 lead. This tally from DeMarsh shows his versatility after his transition from the blue line up to the forward group after his SECHL All-Rookie, First, and All-Academic team season last year. The Saints would go on to win 3-2 with McCarthy getting his second win stopping 22 of 24 shots. Senior defenseman Jay Kelleher took home the Player Of The Game.
This marks the Saints first 2-0-0 start in over three years as they look to keep rolling through this six game homestand to open the season. Next Friday and Saturday hosts The University of Vermont and Binghamton University respectively.
Three Stars of the Weekend
1st Star – Daalten DeMarsh
2GP – 1G – 2A
2nd Star – Tim Robinson
2GP – 2G – 0A (1X POTG)
3rd Star – Jay Kelleher
2GP – 0G – 2A (1X POTG)