MANCHESTER, N.H.
-- The Saint Anselm men's soccer team put up
a strong fight this afternoon, but eventually fell to the Saint
Thomas Aquinas Spartans, 4-3 in a rough non-conference
contest. Today's game was the first in history between the
two teams. Freshman Maximilian Glebocki (Wilbraham,
Mass.) scored four points in the game on one goal and two
assists.
The Spartans got on the board quickly, scoring two goals in the
first 15 minutes of play. Shortly after, junior Renan Lopes
(Hillside, N.J.), who already had a goal and an assist in
the game, drove the ball downfield and took a wide open breakaway
shot, but was stopped by a brilliant save by Hawk goalkeeper
John Corridan (Holliston, Mass.).
The Saint Anselm men came back fighting in the second half, and
less than three minutes into the period, freshman Maximilian
Glebocki headed in the first goal of his career off a corner kick
taken by sophomore Keesen Howe (Norwich,
Conn.). However, just two minutes later, the Owls
countered with a third goal, running the score to 3-1.
The Hawks were not ready to surrender just yet, and at 59:14,
Glebocki drove the ball down the right side of the field, took it
into the box, and passed the ball to Justin Labonte
(Pembroke, Mass.) in the center who shot it past the
goalie for the Hawks' second goal of the game. Then, only two
minutes later, Glebocki got open again and took a shot, which was
saved by the keeper but ricocheted off his gloves right to
Justin Colella (Wilmington, Mass.) who netted the
ball to tie the game at three.
The Hawks were finally feeling confident, when at 66:15,
freshman Brendan Flynn (Monroe, N.Y.) sent a pass
across the front of the net to senior John Michael Nabais
(Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) who shot the ball just out of
reach of Corridan to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead, and despite a
few late chances, the Hawks were unable to recover.
It was quite a physical battle out on the field, as the two
teams combined for 29 fouls and three yellow cards. John
Corridan had four saves in the game and Spartan keeper
Nicholas Croce (Mahopac, N.Y.) had five. The
Spartans improved to 1-2 (0-0 ECC) with the win, and the Hawks
dropped to 0-3 (0-1 NE-10).
The Hawks look for their first win of the season when they
return to action on Friday, September 11th, with their
first home Northeast-10 Conference game of the season. Saint
Anselm will face the Assumption College Greyhounds at 4:00 pm.
