MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Meagan Halligan (No. Branford, Conn.) registered four points to lead the ninth-ranked Saint Anselm College field hockey team to a 3-0 Senior Day victory against crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire University in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Halligan had a hand in each of the Hawks' three goals as she dished two assists and scored a goal.
- Sophomores Allia Connolly (Westford, Mass.) and Leika Scott (Falmouth, Maine) also scored goals for Saint Anselm.
- Junior Katherine Sears (Northboro, Mass.) made five saves for her fourth shutout of the year overall, including her second straight.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Hawks grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the 21st minute when a rebound kicked out to Halligan, who quickly dished to Connolly on her right where the ball was whacked into the back of the cage.
- Saint Anselm doubled its lead 1:11 later as Halligan sent a long pass from the left flank, across the goal mouth to the right post for Scott, who finished the play to make it 2-0.
- Halligan herself stretched the lead to 3-0 in the 31st minute as she carried the ball from left to right with only the goalkeeper to beat and sent an off-balance drive past SNHU goalkeeper Jill Piacitelli and into the right side of the net.
- Southern New Hampshire came out playing much improved in the second half, forcing Saint Anselm to make seven saves.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Piacitelli, who made 14 saves in a 2-1 home loss to Saint Anselm back on Sept. 23, stopped seven shots in this one. Junior back Megan Dodge (New Boston, N.H.) made a pair of defensive saves for the Hawks in the second half.
- Saint Anselm outshot Southern New Hampshire, 13-10, including 10-0 in the first half. The Hawks also owned a 13-5 advantage in penalty corners, including 10-0 in the opening stanza.
NOTES
- Halligan is now tied for second on both the single-season and career assists lists, needing one assist to match the career mark of 18 and two to pull even with the top single-season mark of 10.
- Connolly has now recorded at least one point in five of the last six contests.
- The Hawks have won five of their last seven games overall, with all five wins coming via shutout.
- Saint Anselm improves to 11-3 on the season, extending the single-season program record for wins, while also remaining perfect at home at 10-0.
- Seniors Halligan, Taylor Coons (Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.), Richelle Davis (Enfield, Conn.), CeCi Hodgkins (Cumberland, Maine), Nicole Rugan (Chelsea, Maine), Colleen Sears (Danvers, Mass.) and Canada Stewart (Derry, N.H.) were all honored in a ceremony prior to the start of the match.
UP NEXT
- The Hawks return to action Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. when they play host to Saint Michael's College at Grappone.
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