WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: WAVERLY GRAD ORTIZ HELPS SIENA COLLEGE TO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, NCAA TOURNAMENT (2021-04-18)

Valley Sports Report
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Top-seeded Siena College went 3-0, including a win in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw over four-time defending MAAC Champion Monmouth here Friday to claim the conference championship and earn a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Waverly grad Melina Ortiz, a freshman defender on the team, played in all three games for the Lady Hawks, who improve to 6-0-2 on the season.

Predicted to finish eighth in the conference according to the preseason coaches' poll, Siena opened the MAAC tournament with a 3-0 win over eighth-seeded Iona on April 9. Ortiz played a season-high 61 minutes in the win.

On Monday, Siena edged fourth-seeded Rider, 2-1, in the semifinals. Ortiz saw just 11 minutes of action.

On Friday, Siena and Monmouth battled for 110 minutes, including overtime, without a goal. In the penalty kick session, Siena prevailed 4-2. Ortiz played 53 minutes in the win.

On the season, Ortiz has played in seven of Siena's eight matches, averaging 41 minutes per match.

Siena College earns the league's automatic bid to this season's 48-team NCAA Tournament which will be held exclusively in the state of North Carolina beginning Apr. 27. The NCAA Tournament Selection show revealing Siena's matchup will air online at NCAA.com Monday at 1 p.m.

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IN PHOTO: Melina Ortiz.