WALTHAM, Mass. – Freshman Canada Stewart (Derry, N.H.) scored to capture the program's rookie goals and points records, but the Saint Anselm College field hockey team wrapped up its season with a wild 4-3 loss against Bentley University on Thursday evening at the Bentley Turf Field.
The Hawks complete their season at 6-12, including 3-7 in Northeast-10 play, while the Falcons win their sixth straight to improve to 10-6, 7-2 NE-10.
Stewart buried her seventh goal of the season, which gave her 16 points and eclipsed the previous freshman program records for both categories. Stewart tied senior Kristina Katsikis (Hanover, Mass.) for the team lead in goals and finished second in points – just one behind Katsikis.
Saint Anselm jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 8:18 into the contest when junior Eliza Jalbert (Providence, R.I.) scored on a shot from in front after receiving a feed from outside of the circle from classmate Nicole Foley (Falmouth, Maine). It marked the first assist of Foley's career.
Bentley tied it late in the 16th minute as Sally James scored off a scramble in front of senior goalkeeper Megan Sullivan (Braintree, Mass.).
The Falcons went ahead with time expired in the first half when Michaela Clark re-directed Melissa Martorelli's shot off a penalty corner into the cage to make it 2-1.
Stewart knotted things at two 3:44 into the second stanza after knocking in a rebound off a save following a corner.
The Hawks then went up 3-2 when senior Maura Hurley (Holden, Mass.) converted a penalty stroke in the 43rd minute.
The game stayed that way until late in the 61st minute when Bentley tied it at three after Gina Lirange knocked in a loose ball following a flurry of shots against Sullivan.
Bentley then won it when they ended the second half in similar fashion to the way they ended the opening period. Meghan Talerman initiated the corner sequence with time expired when she sent the ball out to the top of the circle for Lirange. Martorelli then collected a feed from Lirange and slid the ball in front to James, who beat Sullivan to lift the Falcons to the 4-3 victory.
Sullivan made 13 saves, while Bentley goalkeeper Julia Powell stopped three shots.
Bentley outshot Saint Anselm, 25-9, and held a 16-6 advantage in penalty corners.
This marked the final career game for seniors Nicole Guimond (Fairfield, Maine), Kathleen DeVylder (Cheshire, Conn.), Hurley, Sullivan and Katsikis, who finishes her career as the program's all-time leader in goals (28), assists (18) and points (74).
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