MANCHESTER, N.H. – Three second-half goals by the Saint Anselm College men's soccer team lifted the team to a 3-1 victory in its Northeast-10 Conference opener on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks improve to 3-1 on the season with a 1-0 record in NE10 play while the Falcons fall to 2-3 overall and to 0-1 in conference play.
The game-winning goal was put home by senior
Patrick Sorensen (Sturbridge, Mass.) in the game's 85th minute. Following a foul, Sorensen took a free-kick from about 40 yards out. The ball bounced around in front of the Bentley goal and found its way across the goal line for what proved to be the game-winning tally.
Earlier in the contest, the Hawks had a chance to register the opening goal but a chip pass from junior
Kevin Jordan (Danvers, Mass.) was just too far out in front of senior
Zach Elliot (Manchester, N.H.). The Falcons had a chance later on off a free-kick, but junior
Brian Underhill (Westford, Mass.) made the save on the near 30-yard attempt.
The Hawks jumped on the board just 2:07 into the second half. A turnover caused by Jordan went to junior
Jonathan Alves (Peabody, Mass.), who dished over to
Josue Assantha (Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo) in the middle of the field. Receiving the ball from Assantha, Elliot took a quick touch to his right that created separation – he fired a right-footed shot into the bottom left of the goal for his third marker of the season.
In the 77th minute, the Falcons found the equalizer.
Jack Aronson launched a throw-in to the post for
Ronan Fitzpatrick, who headed the ball back toward the penalty area where
Connor Mote was waiting to finish off the play into the bottom left of the goal to knot the contest at one.
Saint Anselm added a tally in the 90th minute on a free-kick from about 20 yards out. Elliot stepped over the ball and fired a right-footed strike into the upper right of net for his second of the day and a 3-1 lead for the Hawks.
Bentley registered 17 shots and six on goal while the Hawks put five of their 13 shots on frame. Bentley also held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Underhill improves to 3-1 on the season after making five saves.
Alex Wood falls to 1-1. He made two saves in the losing effort.
The Hawks return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at Stonehill. The opening kick is slated for 7 p.m. from Easton, Mass.
