MANCHESTER, N.H. – Emmet O'Callaghan's team-high sixth goal of the season was not enough for the Saint Anselm men's soccer team as regionally-ranked Merrimack College used a pair of early goals to down the Hawks 2-1 in Northeast-10 Conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Melucci Field.

Box Score

Merrimack (12-4-0, 9-3-0 NE-10) scored twice in the first 14 minutes of the game to take a commanding lead. Saint Anselm (3-11-1, 2-9-1 NE-10) got one back through O'Callaghan midway through the first half but could not find a tying goal the rest of the way.

The Warriors, who were ranked No. 5 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II East Poll, got off to a quick start as Oscar Zepeda Cagide tackled the ball of a defender and converted a 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper after just 2:21.

A little over 10 minutes later, Alexander Alleyne capitalized on a dropped cross in the box by finishing into an empty net to double the Warriors' advantage. Cagide and Alleyne's goals were both unassisted and their third of the season.

Ten minutes after Merrimack went up 2-0, the Hawks grabbed a goal back when Kyler Thayer played a ball in behind the Warriors' backline that O'Callaghan ran onto and finished on a breakaway. Thayer's assist was his first-career point with the Hawks, while O'Callaghan surpassed last year's goal total with his sixth of 2016. His six goals are also the most by a Saint Anselm player since the 2011 season.

Saint Anselm had a couple chances to find an equalizer in the second half. Midway through the second half, Zach Heckt and O'Callaghan combined near the edge of the box but Heckt was crowded out as he tried to get a shot away.

Inside the final 10 minutes, Jack Heintzelman found Heckt with a lofted through ball but Heckt fired over the onrushing goalkeeper as the Warriors held on for the win.

Saint Anselm held a 14-12 edge in shots in the game with each team getting three efforts on goal. Tyler Packett earned the win by making two saves for the Warriors, while Helio Meirelles Neto had only one save to make but suffered the loss.

The game was Saint Anselm's final home game of the season. The Hawks wrap up their season at Stonehill on Friday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m.