MANCHESTER, N.H. – A combined 33 total shots and 13 on-goal attempts were not enough for either team to score as the Saint Anselm College men's soccer team slugged it out to a scoreless tie with visiting University of New Haven Wednesday afternoon at Melucci Field.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Both goalkeepers proved the difference-makers in the contest as each came up with some crafty plays to preserve the scoreless draw.
• Junior Stephen McLeod (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded four saves on the afternoon, improving to 2-8-2 overall in his 14 season starts.
• Sophomore Jack Heintzelman (Middleton, Mass.) put three shots on target while senior Sean Smith (Hampstead, N.H.) and Zachary Heckt (South Windsor, Conn.) each ripped a pair of shots on-goal.
For the Chargers…
• Goalkeeper Stephen Sasso recorded eight of the team's nine saves—the other coming by a defender midway through the first half—while moving to 4-9-1 on the year.
• Offensively, George Tighe and Rob Poirer each put two shots on target, both being saved by McLeod.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Anselm had several opportunities to knock one in early, including a Heckt shot in the fifth minute that was saved by Sasso.
• Smith then nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 18th minute, beating Sasso from the right side but New Haven's Mawasi Charles booted Smith's shot out the baseline to hold the scoreless draw.
• New Haven was awarded a free kick early in the second half, and Saint Anselm's JD Hayward's (Ashford, Conn.) header bounced off the Hawks' left goalpost, but the ball was finally cleared from harm.
• McLeod then made another leaping punch late in regulation on a high strike from Tighe, ultimately preserving the zeroes on the board.
• Saint Anselm mustered just one shot on-goal in the overtime periods while the Chargers put two on-target, but both teams were forced to settle for one point in the league standings.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• Saint Anselm held a 22-11 advantage in shots on the afternoon, including a 9-4 advantage in on-goal attempts.
• The Hawks accrued seven corners to New Haven's four.
NOTES
• Saint Anselm was shut out for just the second time this season, and first since a 2-0 loss at Saint Michael's College on Sept. 23.
• The draw snaps a nine-game losing streak, but the Hawks still remain winless in their last 11 contests.
• Saint Anselm clings to a slim 6-5-2 lead in the all-time series with Wednesday's draw.
UP NEXT
• Saint Anselm will play two over its final three-game stretch on the friendly confines of Melucci Field, starting Saturday with a 3 p.m. matchup against Adelphi University. The Hawks will then conclude their season with a Tuesday game at Merrimack College before closing out the 2015 campaign against Stonehill College Friday, October 30 for Senior Day.
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