The host Lady Saints (9-5-1) got on the scoreboard first in the 22nd minute when Amanda Marinello bent a 25-yard shot into the upper corner of the net to make it 1-0 after taking a pass from Allison Septer.

MVNU (10-4-1) equalized with less than four minutes left in the first half when senior forward Kristy Brandolini (left) took a pass from Jessica Estep and scored on a shot into the side netting to knot the score at 1-1. The goal was Brandolini’s 10th of the season and the 66th of her career as she needs just one more goal to tie the school record of 67 set by former Lady Cougar standout Catherine Hess.

In the second half, Siena Heights scored three times to pull away for the 4-1 victory as Colleen Luther, Bridgette Scott, and Ashley Wilmoth each had unassisted goals.

MVNU held a 13-6 advantage in corner kicks including 12 in the first half. The Lady Cougars also had a 24-22 edge in total shots and a 12-10 advantage in shots on goal, but the Lady Saints still pulled out the victory.

Freshman goalkeeper Jenessa Loewen and senior Melissa Peters combined to stop four shots in goal while there were also two team saves as defenders cleared balls off the line. Haley Mancini registered 11 saves to preserve the win for Siena Heights.

“This was a tough loss because statistically we did a lot of good things as far as creating scoring chances,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade. “Unfortunately, we allowed them to score goals on long distance shots that we should have cleared.”

The Lady Cougars will look to bounce back on Thursday when MVNU will host 12th-ranked Ohio Dominican University at 3:30 p.m. with first place in the American Mideast Conference South Division on the line.