MANCHESTER, N.H. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team overpowered Saint Michael's College on Saturday, setting several program records on the way to a 29-3 victory at Grappone Stadium.

Both teams entered with matching 3-0 records on the season, but the No. 17-ranked Hawks ran their winning streak to seven games dating back to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Leading by a 15-0 margin at halftime, Saint Anselm has now won 10 consecutive regular season games dating back to Apr. 16, 2019, a 16-6 win over Saint Michael's.

16 student-athletes recorded at least one point of offense in the convincing victory as the 29 goals eclipsed the previous all-time mark of 26 goals in one game, set against Green Mountain on Feb. 24, 2007. The 29 goals are the most scored by an NE10 team against another NE10 team since Bryant scored 31 against American International on Mar. 26, 2008.

Additionally, the 43 points of total offense (29-14=43) ranks third in team annals and the team's 26 face-off victories matched the team record most recently set against Post on Mar. 23, 2019. The Hawks also fired 73 shots in the game, the third-most ever recorded in the team's program history.

Saint Anselm entered the game as the No. 17 team in NCAA Division II, according to the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association National Coaches' Poll. The Hawks also enjoy the top ranking in the region, according to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll.

Senior co-captain Griffin Shoemaker (Shirley, Mass.) led the way with five goals and an assist for six points. He was followed by sophomores Jack Robinson (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Jack Andrews (Cumberland, R.I.) who each logged three goals and an assist for four points (3-1=4). Junior Matt Rawding (Beverly, Mass.) posted a career-high four points, as did freshman Nick Larsen (Northborough, Mass.).

Senior Matt Ward (Shrewsbury, Mass.) had two goals and an assist for three points, as did freshman AJ Caprio (Scituate, Mass.), whose pair of goals were the first of his collegiate career. Senior Ryan Melley (Reading, Mass.) tallied three goals, posting the first multi-goal game of his career, and won nine of his 12 face-off attempts in the game.

Sophomore Jake Athanas (Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.) and junior Thomas Ackil (Southborough, Mass.) each logged the first multiple-goal games of their careers. Freshman Chase Lilly (Trumbull, Conn.) and junior Kyle Fisher (Nashua, N.H.) posted one assist, each recording their first collegiate point in the process.

Sophomore Craig Yannone (Lynnfield, Mass.) picked up a team-leading 11 ground balls after winning 16 of his 22 face-off attempts in the game. Melley had six ground balls and Ward reeled in five on the evening. Seven student-athletes logged a caused turnover in the winning effort.

The Hawks opened up a 15-0 lead at halftime and never looked back, finishing with distinct statistical advantages in shots taken (73-to-19), shots on goal (45-to-12), successful clearances (20-to-15), ground balls (52-to-19) and face-off victories (26-to-9). Saint Michael's was also flagged for all but two of the game's 10 infractions.

Saint Michael's scored three of the second half's first five goals, but the Hawks ended the contest with 12 unanswered tallies after opening the game with 15 consecutive markers. Saint Anselm also posted at least three man-up goals for the third consecutive game.

Senior CJ Hart (Reading, Mass.) got the win in goal for Saint Anselm, making six saves without yielding a goal in the first 30 minutes of action. The trio of Lance Pfeninger-Racine (Dartmouth, Mass.), David Olsen (Salem, N.H.) and Will Davis (Franklin, Mass.) each saw action in the second half, combining for three saves.

Four Saint Michael's goaltenders played in the game, yielding 29 goals on 45 shots and making 16 saves. Nathan Woods led the Purple Knights with two goals with Alex Chirgwin also finding the back of the net. Chirgwin also posted five ground balls and had two caused turnovers in his team's defeat.