MANCHESTER, N.H. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team continues its run of challenging lacrosse on Tuesday as the Hawks travel to nationally-ranked Bentley University for a 7 p.m. matchup.

Released on Monday, the Hawks improved one spot in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National Poll to 20th after holding down the 21st spot for the past few weeks. This matchup will feature two nationally-ranked teams facing off for the second time this season as the Hawks took the first meeting in 2021.

The Hawks will put their 10-game winning streak on the line as the stretch of Saint Anselm success dates back to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. This year, the Hawks have earned a perfect 6-0 record with five of their wins coming in official Northeast-10 Conference contests, including a big victory over the Falcons in a hard-fought battle a week prior.

In accordance with the NE10 Attendance Policy for the spring 2021 season, Bentley recently announced that fans will not be permitted access to attend any athletic events. For more information, please refer to the Bentley Spectator Policy.

Live Stats will be provided for the game, along with Live Video from the NE10 Now Network.

HAWKS NOTES

• Last time out, the Hawks downed their cross-town rival Southern New Hampshire for the second time this year while also extending the team's winning streak to 10 games. Heading into the new week, the Hawks are one of seven teams to remain undefeated in the 2021 season, along with No. 3 Le Moyne.
• Senior Annie Richards (Reading, Mass.) kept her offensive presence going against the Penmen, dishing out a team-high six assists with two goals in the win. Richards has recorded three or more assists on four different occasions throughout the year, totaling 24 assists in the 2021 campaign. Richards is seven points away from capturing her 100th career point, joining 18 other Hawks student-athletes with 100 or more points in their career.
• The offensive attack is followed by freshman Alison Ferullo (North Andover, Mass.), who netted a new career-high six goals in the victory over the Penmen. She has posted two or more goals in four of the past five games she has played.
• The Hawks goal scorers are also led by freshman Jess Sullivan (Wrentham, Mass.), junior captain Jenna Balboni (Billerica, Mass.), and sophomore Lexi Palmisano (Woburn, Mass.). Balboni has been one of the most consistent Hawks student-athletes on the team, claiming one or more points in the past 12 games dating back to Apr. 24, 2019 against Pace. Palmisano also owns a three-game point streak, going back to her four-goal performance against Stonehill on Apr. 10. Sullivan has scored three hat tricks so far in her first season for the Hawks.
• Junior goalkeeper Grace Young (Merrimack, N.H.) posted seven saves in her sixth win of the season against the Penmen while also claiming a team-high five ground balls. Young and the Hawks defense has recorded the ninth-best goals-against average mark in all of Division II (7.17).
• Senior Kelsey Czarnota (Wakefield, Mass.) and Balboni have both led the transition game with 10 caused turnovers along with Czarnota earning 15 draw controls on the season. Palmisano leads the team in draw controls with 22 victories, winning five or more times on three different occasions.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS

• After falling to the Hawks on Tuesday, Apr. 13, the Falcons won a pair of contests on the road last week, defeating Saint Michael's, 12-2, and Southern New Hampshire, 17-4. In their previous six of eight games, the Falcons have held their opponents to nine or fewer goals.
• Julia Glavin has led Bentley's attack with 35 total points on the season, recording three or more goals on six different occasions throughout the year. Glavin totaled seven goals and three assists last week, earning two hat tricks in wins over Saint Michael's and Southern New Hampshire. She had an all-around performance on the week, totaling six ground balls, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers.
• The Hawks will also have to watch out for six other student-athletes who have recorded 10 or more points on the season. Caroline Affolter leads that group with 15 points on 14 goals and one assist. She has also scored two goals in each of the past two games. Sandrine Heller has assisted on 10 goals, a team-leading mark, while scoring two tallies of her own.
• Bentley's goalkeeper, Eliza Bresler, broke the program's career saves record recently, making 563 saves in her career. On Monday, she was named NE10 Goalkeeper of the Week, marking her second honor this season. In the last three games, Bresler went 2-1 with a 6.00 goals-against average and a .673 save percentage. She made 13 saves and a career-high .867 save percentage in a 12-2 victory at Saint Michael's on Apr. 15. On Saturday, she made 13 saves to help Bentley to a 17-4 win over the Penmen.

ALL-TIME vs. BENTLEY

• The Falcons holds a significant lead in the all-time series list with a 21-3 advantage, claiming wins in the past five of six contests despite falling against the Hawks earlier in 2021 by a score of 12-11.
• The matchup has been close either way as the final score has been within four goals or less in nine of the prior 12 battles between the rivals.
• Before Saint Anselm won on Apr. 13, 2021, the Hawks last win over the Falcons was back in 2014 when Saint Anselm defeated Bentley, 17-10, in the NE10 First Round, advancing the Hawks to the NE10 Semifinals, where they lost in a close game against New Haven, 15-14.