ALBANY, N.Y. – The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team sees its season come to a close after playing to a scoreless double-overtime draw in its NCAA Championship First Round match on Friday against Jefferson University. The fifth-seeded Rams advance to the next round, turning away the fourth-seeded Hawks by a 4-2 margin on penalty kicks.

The Hawks historic season ends at 10-6-2 overall. The team played to a 7-5-1 record against Northeast-10 Conference opponents during the regular season. The Rams are now 12-5-2 on the season and will advance to play The College of Saint Rose in the Second Round on Sunday from Albany, N.Y.

This season's Saint Anselm squad qualified for the NCAA postseason for the first time in program history in addition to winning its first NE10 playoff match since 2006. Additionally, the team posted a shutout streak of 448:37 minutes earlier in the season, one of the longest in program history, and finished as just the ninth team in the history of Saint Anselm women's soccer to reach 10 wins in a season.

The Hawks found themselves prominently in the East Region rankings since week three of the poll, reaching as high as fourth in the region. Heading into the game, Saint Anselm was one of just two NE10 programs still competing – the Hawks were picked 10th out of 14 teams in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll prior to the season.

Kiery Spatz opened the penalty kicks for the Rams and missed high before senior Regan Pratt (Newburyport, Mass.) had her shot attempt turned aside. Devin Sullivan got Jefferson on the board first before Rams goalkeeper Liv Riddel stopped the attempt by sophomore Alexandra Baltas (Worcester, Mass.). The squads traded goals in round three and four as freshman Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) and junior Grace Foley (Middleton, Mass.) converted on their opportunities for the Hawks, but Laurel Erick managed to find the back of the net to advance Jefferson by a 4-2 score.

Earlier in the match, Erick found free space in the first minute of play inside the 18-yard box and fired a shot that beat junior goalkeeper Kate Macaluso (Malverne, N.Y.), but the Hawks defense turned away the threat.

The Rams best scoring chance of the first half came in the match's 17th minute. Sullivan drove toward the Hawks goal and fired a shot from about 25-yards out that forced Macaluso to make a diving stop.

Saint Anselm got its first scoring chance in the 20th minute as sophomore Olivia Gotobed (North Andover, Mass.) sent a long shot on Riddel, but the Jefferson netminder handled the tricky bounce to maintain the scoreless tie.

Jefferson put three shots on goal in the first half compared to just one for Saint Anselm, but the Hawks were awarded two corner kicks to one for the Rams.

The Rams had three consecutive shot attempts in the 80th and 81st minute as Erick beat the backline, but an attacking Macaluso made the stop. Erick sent the ensuing rebound chance over the goal. Spatz concluded the chances when she sent a long-shot off target shortly thereafter.

At the end of regulation, the Rams held an 11-4 edge in shots including a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal.

In the 106th minute, Gotobed sent a high-arcing shot just wide from just inside the 18-yard box which was the closest scoring chance for Saint Anselm to that point in the overtime periods.

As the seconds counted down in the second overtime period, junior Kathryn White (Georgetown, Mass.) launched a free kick on goal with under 10 seconds left in overtime but Riddel made the stop with one second left on the clock.

The Rams out-shot the Hawks by a 12-5 margin, including an 8-5 spread in shots on goal. Jefferson had six corner kicks to five for Saint Anselm.

Macaluso made seven saves in her seventh shutout of the season. Riddel made five saves in net for the Rams.