MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College men's soccer team fell to nationally-ranked American International College on Saturday afternoon, 1-0.

With the loss, the regionally-ranked Hawks fall to .500 at 4-4 with a 2-3 record in Northeast-10 Conference play. The No. 22-ranked Yellow Jackets remain undefeated at 8-0-1 with a 5-0-0 record in league contests. Saint Anselm returns to action on Oct. 6 against in-state foe and No. 2 team in the country Franklin Pierce.

In the 64th minute, Carl Larsson came on for American International as a substitute and made an immediate impact. Jordi Brinkman got the play started from his own defensive half, launching a high-cross to Niklas Stalzer who volleyed the service down into the right side of the box for Larsson who fired a shot into the bottom left of the goal to give American International a 1-0 lead.

Earlier in the contest, the Hawks got three of their best scoring chances in the first 20 minutes as junior Jackson Bukunt (Upton, Mass.) drove from the defensive side of the field and escaped two defenders on his way toward the box. He gained enough clearance to fire a shot from about 20 yards out that just sailed wide left.

In the 15th minute, senior Zach Elliot (Manchester, N.H.) found free space on the left side of the field and put the ball on frame from about 25 yards out, forcing Lucas Morales-Fernandez to make the save to his right.

Junior Josue Assantha (Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo) collected a throw-in from Elliot inside the six-yard box but fired a shot over the goal frame in the 20th minute.

Late in the first half, Elliot took a free-kick from about 25 yards out that bent around the wall defending the free kick. The shot found its way toward the net but Morales-Fernandez made a jumping save to preserve the scoreless contest.

After the Yellow Jackets opened the second half with a shot on junior Brian Underhill (Westford, Mass.), which he turned aside in the 49th minute, the Hawks fired four shots over the next 10 minutes but could not convert on the opportunities.

The Hawks registered just one shot after the American International goal as a Tucker Henry (Lee, N.H.) shot attempt was blocked. Saint Anselm was awarded two corner kicks in the final three minutes but were unable to register any shot attempts from the scoring chances.

Saint Anselm out-shot American International, 13-11, but shots on goals was deadlocked at three. The Yellow Jackets had six corner kicks while the Hawks had four.

Underhill made two saves on three shots on goal, falling to 4-4 on the season. Morales-Fernandez improves to 8-0-1 after posting the three save shutout.