MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team posted a 1-0 victory over the 12th-ranked team nationally, Southern New Hampshire, on Thursday afternoon.
The Hawks, who are the fifth-ranked team in the East Region according to the United Soccer Coaches organization, improve to 9-3-1 on the year with a 7-3-1 record in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Penmen fall to 12-2-1 on the season and 10-2 in league matches.
Saint Anselm is now unbeaten in its last three matches against the crosstown rival, with wins coming at Melucci field in 2018 and this season. The win on Sept. 12, 2018 is the last time Saint Anselm defeated a nationally-ranked opponent as SNHU was ranked 12th at the time.
The lone goal of the match came in the 24th minute on a long strike by sophomore
Tara McCleary (Quincy, Mass.), who settled a quick pass from senior
Regan Pratt (Newburyport, Mass.) and converted from long distance for the game winner.
Amberly Mentz opened the second half and sent a chip shot on junior
Kate Macaluso (Malverne, N.Y.), who made a leaping one-handed save to preserve the one goal lead.
The best second-half chance for the Hawks came from sophomore
Lily LaGrassa (Middleton, Mass.) as she fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box. However, her right-footed shot sailed just over the
crossbar in the 57th minute.
With 26 minutes remaining on the scoreboard,
Alyssa Anderson managed to beat the Hawks back line as she received a service at the 18-yard box. She made a quick touch forward and gained clearance to
fire a shot that forced an attacking Macaluso to make a reactionary save. She swatted the ball down and the defense cleared the rebound away, ending that scoring chance for the Penmen.
Junior
Megan Nguyen (Dudley, Mass.) sent a ball toward goal on a free kick in the 67th minute that nearly found its way inside the right post but
Hannah Rose made the stop on the shot from near midfield.
Southern New Hampshire appeared to have found an equalizer in the 85th minute as
Allyson Patterson fired a shot that beat Macaluso, but bounced off the post. However, the rebound came back out to the
middle of the box where
Oriane Hoeman cleaned up the play, putting the ball into the back of the net. However, the sequence was whistled down and offsides was called following the shot off the post.
The Hawks managed to close out the match as that would be the last strong scoring chance for the Penmen.
Southern New Hampshire held a 21-5 advantage in shots including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. The Penmen also were awarded six corner kicks to zero for the Hawks.
Macaluso made six saves in the shutout victory while Rose made two saves in the losing effort.
The Hawks conclude their regular season home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 30 when Stonehill comes to the Hilltop. Due to impending inclement weather, the match has been moved to Grappone Stadium with an opening kick scheduled for 6 p.m. under the lights.
