WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior midfielder Sean Smith (Hampstead, N.H.) and junior midfielder Jack Lynch (Weymouth, Mass.) each recorded a first-half goal and the Saint Anselm College men's soccer team hung on for a gritty 2-1 victory over host Assumption College in a 2015 Catholic Cup semifinal Friday evening at the Greyhounds' Multi-Sport Stadium.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Smith, who was the second leading-scorer for the Hawks last season, netted his first goal of the year.
• Lynch, a Northeast-10 Third Team honoree last season, added his first goal of the year.
• Junior goalkeeper Stephen McLeod (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded a game-high four saves—all in the second half—in his first season start in goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Smith led off the scoring with a goal at the 6:07 mark of the first half off an assist from sophomore forward Jack Heintzelman (Middleton, Mass.).
• Lynch made it 2-0 after converting on a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Assumption's Jordan Cavaco was booked for a yellow card inside the Saint Anselm box, awarding Lynch the penalty attempt.
• Assumption's Nemanja Kaurin cut the Saint Anselm lead in half by scoring on a free kick just outside the box midway through the second half.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• Saint Anselm converted on all of its two shots-on-goal attempts, going a perfect 2-for-2.
• Assumption outshot the Hawks 19-7 for the game, including a dominating 12-2 advantage in the second half alone.
• Friday's physical season-opener saw four different players earn a yellow-card booking.
NOTES
• Friday marked Saint Anselm's second straight Catholic Cup victory over Assumption, as the Hawks shut out the 'Hounds 2-0 in last year's Consolation Game.
• Saint Anselm will welcome Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference rematch on Tuesday, September 15 at Melucci Field.
UP NEXT
• Saint Anselm will advance to its second ever Catholic Cup Championship game Saturday afternoon, battling Stonehill College in a 4 p.m. start time at Assumption's Multi-Sport Stadium in Worcester, Mass. The Skyhawks were 3-2 winners over Saint Michael's College in Friday's afternoon game.
• Assumption will take on Saint Michael's in the Consolation Game scheduled for 1 p.m.
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