MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Eddie Conroy (Portsmouth, N.H.) connected with classmate Jack Lynch (Weymouth, Mass.) midway through the first half, but the Saint Anselm College men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision to Northeast-10 Conference and in-state rival Franklin Pierce University Saturday afternoon at Melucci Field.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Lynch netted his second goal in as many games and ups his season tally to four. His eight points are currently a team-high, tied with Zachary Heckt (South Windsor, Conn.).
• Conroy added his third assist of the year, and second over the past three games.
• Stephen McLeod (Chelmsford, Mass.) collected a game-high seven saves, falling to 2-6-1 overall in his nine starts.
For the Opponents…
• Victor DaCosta scored his first two goals of the season for Franklin Pierce and Jordan Barnett added his second goal late in the second half.
• Lorris Cortijo and David Magee each added an assist.
• Jordan LeGuyader recorded four saves for the Ravens.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Anselm had a stellar opportunity to score in the 20th minute after a Raven was whistled for a handball inside the box. Yet LeGuyader made a sprawling save on Lynch's penalty kick, and Franklin Pierce countered with an attack of its own. DeCosta carried the ball deep up the right side and rocketed a ball in close that ricocheted off a Saint Anselm defender into the netting.
• DaCosta struck again just a minute and half later, deflecting a Lorris Cortijo entry on the left side past McLeod to put the Ravens up 2-0.
• Lynch then offered up a response of his own, booting home Conroy's cross from the right flank at the 24:35 mark to cap off a wild five-minute span in the first half.
• Franklin Pierce possessed most of the second half before eventually adding an insurance goal on a perfectly entered free kick from the right end line with Barnett tucking the ball inside the right post.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• Franklin Pierce outshot Saint Anselm 20-8 on the afternoon, including an 11-4 advantage in the second half alone.
• The Ravens also held the hosts cornerless in the matchup, entering six corner kicks of their own.
NOTES
• Franklin Pierce improves to 22-12-2 all-time against the Hawks.
• The Ravens also have not lost to Saint Anselm since 2002, owning a 12-0-1 record over that span.
• Saint Anselm's losing streak stretches to seven games while FPU snaps a six-game winless streak with Saturday's victory.
UP NEXT
• Saint Anselm will head to crosstown rival and No. 3-ranked Southern New Hampshire University Wednesday for a Queen City Cup clash slated for 7 p.m. The Hawks' next home game will be the following Wednesday, October 21 as they host New Haven at 3 p.m. on Melucci Field.
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