COLCHESTER, Vt. – Junior Kathryn White (Georgetown, Mass.) converted on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, scoring the only goal of the game as Saint Anselm College women's soccer locked down a 1-0 victory over Saint Michael's on Wednesday afternoon.

With the win, the Hawks push their unbeaten streak to five games and improve to 5-1-1 overall with a 3-1-1 record in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Purple Knights fall to 4-4-1 on the season with a 2-3-1 mark in league contests. Saint Anselm returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 2 when Assumption comes to Melucci Field. The NE10 matchup is slated to kick off at 3 p.m.

The Hawks posted two unbeaten streaks of five games during the 2019 season. During this unbeaten stretch, the Hawks have not allowed a goal in 421:48 which is the longest stretch since the 1992 team did not allow a goal for at least 360 consecutive minutes. Saint Anselm also extends its unbeaten streak against Saint Michael's to 13 matches.

"The team put forth a strong performance today. Winning at Saint Michael's is a very tall task. They are so disruptive and really difficult to break down." said head coach Joel Bancroft. "We received many good individual performances and needed every one of them today. Credit the group for raising our level in the second half, generating more opportunities, and finding the resilience to get the goal we needed for a result."

The Hawks received two penalty kicks, the second coming in the 65th minute following a handball inside the Saint Michael's 18-yard box. White took the opportunity and fired a right-footed shot past Saint Michael's goalkeeper Katie Escobedo. Denied on her first penalty kick attempt, White made sure to find the back of the net the second time and gave the Hawks a 1-0 advantage for her first goal of the season.

Earlier in the match, Saint Anselm controlled play in the first half, outshooting Saint Michael's 10-2. However, both teams only managed two shots on goal. Freshmen Josie Pecor (Williston, Vt.) and Riley Digilio (Danvers, Mass.) registered the Hawks' shots on goal but neither managed to get their best effort into the shots, creating easy saves for Escobedo.

The Hawks pushed the pace to open the second half and were rewarded for it, as sophomore Tara McCleary (Quincy, Mass.) was fouled inside the Purple Knights' 18-yard box, drawing a penalty kick. White took the kick in the 61st minute, attempting to give Saint Anselm the lead with a right-footed shot, but Escobedo made a diving save to preserve the scoreless tie.  

Following a miscommunication just outside the Hawks 18-yard box in the 70th minute, Claire Williams had a loose ball and a free lane to shoot. Her right-footed shot sailed high as that was the best chance for the Purple Knights to find the goal to that point.

In the 72nd minute, sophomore Lily LaGrassa (Middleton, Mass.) collected a service inside the box from junior Grace Foley (Middleton, Mass.). LaGrassa fired a shot from about 12 yards out that nearly doubled the lead for the Hawks, but her shot went over the crossbar.

Saint Michael's threatened late in the second half as Zoe Rogers sent a shot toward junior goal keeper Kate Macaluso (Malverne, N.Y.). Macaluso made the save to preserve the fourth shutout of the season.

Saint Anselm held a 21-6 shot advantage including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. The Hawks were awarded four corner kicks while the Purple Knights did not have any.

Macaluso improves to 5-1-1 on the season after making three saves in the winning effort. Escobedo stopped seven of eight shots on goal, falling to 3-4-1 overall.