MANCHESTER, N.H. ­– The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team captured a 20-7 victory over visiting Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday.

The Hawks move to 5-0 on the season and have won each of their last eight games dating back to the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Southern New Hampshire falls to 3-3 overall on the season, having dropped two games to Saint Anselm this season. The Northeast Division rivals will meet once again on Apr. 24 at 3 p.m.

Saint Anselm fired 76 shots against Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday, reaching at least 73 shots for the second consecutive game. Additionally, the Hawks posted 16 assists, 36 points of offense and 21 face-off victories as a team, ranking 10th in single-game team history in all three metrics.

Senior Griffin Shoemaker (Shirley, Mass.) scored four goals and added two assists for a team-leading six points (4-2=6). Classmate Ryan Richards (Mendon, Mass.) returned to the field for the Hawks, posting two goals and three assists for five points (2-3=5) and sophomore Jack Andrews (Cumberland, R.I.) was responsible for three goals and an assist for four points (3-1=4).

Sophomore Jack Robinson (Wilbraham, Mass.) also had a strong game for Saint Anselm, scoring a goal and tying for the team lead with three assists. Sophomore Craig Yannone (Lynnfield, Mass.) won 19-of-27 face-offs with senior Ryan Melley (Reading, Mass.) picking up two wins. Senior Joseph Hartigan (Brookline, Mass.) led the way defensively with two caused turnovers.

Shoemaker scored just 90 seconds into the game, but the Penmen responded with the next goal to tie the score. The Hawks put the game out of reach early, scoring the next six goals to create a 7-1 advantage shortly into the second quarter.

The halftime lead grew to 12-2 as the Hawks posted all but one of the second quarter's seven goals, outshooting the Penmen by a 40-to-15 margin in the opening 30 minutes. The Hawks also held decisive first-half advantages in ground balls (19-to-10) and extra-man goals (2-to-0).

Southern New Hampshire's offense found a rhythm in the second half, scoring five of its seven goals in that stanza, but the Hawks continued to tack on goals on the way to a 13-goal victory. Saint Anselm committed a season-high 20 turnovers, but logged at least 41 ground balls for the seventh consecutive game.

Senior CJ Hart (Reading, Mass.) earned the win in goal for Saint Anselm, making six saves on eight shots in the opening 30 minutes. He was relieved by sophomore David Olsen (Salem, N.H.), who made four saves down the stretch.

Penmen backstop Ronan DePaul performed admirably, making 17 saves on 37 shots against. Southern New Hampshire was led by a three-point performance by David Wiedenfeld, logging two goals and an assist.
The Hawks welcome Assumption to Grappone Stadium this Saturday, Apr. 10 at high noon.