WALTHAM, Mass. – The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team fell to Bentley University in the regular-season finale by a 2-1 score on Wednesday afternoon.

The Hawks, ranked fourth in the East Region, head to the NE10 playoffs with a 9-5-1 record overall and a 7-5-1 mark in Northeast-10 Conference matches. The Falcons, who are sixth in the East Region, move to 8-5-3 on the season and 8-4-1 in league matches.

Both teams are headed to the NE10 playoffs as with the victory, Bentley has secured the third seed and will host on Sunday, Nov. 7 while the Hawks will be either fifth or sixth seed depending on how the rest of the matches in the league finish on Wednesday. The Hawks will be on the road in their NE10 Quarterfinal match with the opponent, location, and time still to be determined.

After drawing a foul deep just outside the Bentley 18-yard box in the 28th minute, senior Regan Pratt (Newburyport, Mass.) sent a swinging ball into the right side of the box. The ball bounced around and found freshman Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) who fired a shot on goal that beat Falcons goalkeeper Kat Hassapis, but Jayne Conry was playing on the goal line quickly cleared the ball away, recording a team save and preserving the scoreless tie.

After a strong chance to score in the 43rd minute on a shot by Sydney O'Connor that went just wide from about 20 yards out, the Falcons broke the scoreless tie in the final minute of the first half on Mckenzie Sullivan's near 30-yard shot into the upper half of the net.

Bentley doubled its lead in the 56th minute as junior Kate Macaluso (Malverne, N.Y.) dove to deflect a cross into the box. The rebound ricocheted to Amanda Andriano who fired a shot into the back of the net.

The Hawks struck in the 68th minute as freshman Josie Pecor (Williston, Vt.) fired a shot on Hassapis that was turned aside, giving Saint Anselm a corner kick. Pratt took the corner kick from the right corner and sent a left-footed ball toward the goal. The ball found its way into the left side of the goal, cutting the deficit to one at 2-1.

Searching for the equalizer, the Hawks fired seven shots in the final 10 minutes of play and controlled most of the possession but were unable to beat the Falcons goalkeeper. The best chance came on an attempt by freshman Alyssa McColl (Stoughton, Mass.) that went just wide of the right post.

The Hawks held a slight advantage in shots at 14-11 but both teams put six shots on frame. Saint Anselm was awarded five corner kicks to two for Bentley.

Macaluso made four saves on six shots on goal in the losing effort while Hassapis stopped four of five shots on goal with her defense being credited with one save.