MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team grabbed a 2-1 victory over crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday.
With the win, the Hawks improve to 8-6-1 on the season and 4-6-1 in Northeast-10 Conference matches while the Penmen drop to 5-3-5 overall and 2-3-5 in conference action. Saint Anselm concludes its regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 26 with a 3 p.m. kickoff from Melucci Field against Southern Connecticut State University.
Saint Anselm earns two points toward the Queen City Cup which was tied at four after the conclusion of the match. The Hawks have won consecutive matches against the Penmen for the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
Junior
Olivia Gotobed (North Andover, Mass.) and freshman
Kayli Porter (Wakefield, Mass.) netted one goal each for the Hawks while senior
Kathryn White (Georgetown, Mass.) posted in the match.
The Hawks struck first in the 16th minute when Gotobed collected a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box and chipped a shot over the Penmen goalkeeper,
Hannah Rose. Gotobed's tally gave Saint Anselm a 1-0 lead and is her fifth of the season, which is a team high.
Southern New Hampshire had numerous chances late in the half as they attempted five of its seven shots in the opening 45 minutes after the Hawks goal.
Saint Anselm quickly doubled its lead in the opening minutes of the second half as White sent a free kick into the box which found the head of Porter to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 48th minute. That marks the third tally of Porter's freshman campaign.
After upping the pressure in search of a goal, the Penmen would find the back of the net in the 77th minute.
Anne Sikkema collected a throw-in and drove to the middle of the field to gain separation from the Saint Anselm defense and fired a left-footed strike into the lower left corner of the goal which cut the Hawks lead to 2-1.
In the final 10 minutes of play,
Lauren Conti had a great chance off a corner kick play but senior goalkeeper
Kate Macaluso (Malverne, N.Y.) made the save to preserve the Saint Anselm lead.
The Penmen attempted 12 shots compared to nine for the Hawks but Saint Anselm held an 8-5 edge in shots on goal. Southern New Hampshire was awarded three corner kicks to two for the Hawks.
Macaluso, who was making her third consecutive start, turned aside four shots on goal in the win while Rose made six saves in the Penmen net.
