MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Zach Heckt (South Windsor, Conn.) and senior captain Chad Dakin (Wilbraham, Mass.) each tallied their first goals of the season as the Saint Anselm men's soccer team stayed alive in the hunt for a Northeast-10 Championships tournament bid with a 2-1 victory over Bentley at Melucci Field Tuesday night.
Heckt, Saint Anselm's leading scorer last season, took to the offensive early, putting away a shot from near the 12-yard marker on junior Sean Smith's (Hampstead, N.H.) assist from the near right wing.
A red card issued to one of the Falcon defensemen came in the 29th minute, forcing Bentley to finish the game with one fewer player. The Hawks had their fair share of chances to really take control, earning three corner kicks in the first half alone.
Yet Bentley (5-10-1, 4-7-1 Northeast-10) would take advantage of a yellow card issued in the Saint Anselm box, leveling the score at 1-1. The penalty kick, taken in the 37th minute, zipped just past the outstretched reach of Saint Anselm senior goalkeeper Bret Macko (Bolton, Mass.). Macko would finish the game with two saves while recording his second straight victory in goal for the Hawks this season.
The pressure was put back on by Saint Anselm (5-10, 4-8 NE-10) in the second half, as those in attendance could feel the intensity rising as the game wore on. The Hawks had multiple chances to reclaim the lead, including some near-misses by Heckt from the right wing and a free kick from freshman Jack Heintzelman (Middleton, Mass.) that screamed just inches high in the 68th minute.
In the 86th minute, senior Ronan O'Callaghan (Weymouth, Mass.), whose late-game entry brought some energy into the offensive third, played a ball from deep left to near the top of the box where sophomore Jack Lynch (Weymouth, Mass.) redirected the pass. Dakin, charging from near midfield, sent a blistering liner past the Falcon goalkeeper to score the game-winner—his first tally of the season.
In other important league action, Stonehill came from behind to knock off Saint Michael's in overtime, positioning the Hawks and Purple Knights just three points out of the #8-seed with one game remaining.
In order to earn its first playoff berth since 2009, Saint Anselm must beat American International at Melucci Field and hope for a Bentley loss or tie as the Falcons host last-place New Haven. Both games are scheduled 3 p.m. starts Friday.
Four seniors will be honored at Friday's AIC matchup at Melucci Field, which was moved up a half-hour to ensure game completion before darkness sets in.
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