MANCHESTER, N.H. – The No. 3 nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College field hockey team came up short against No. 6 Assumption University, 2-1, in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship at Grappone Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The 2023 Northeast-10 Conference Champions wrapped up their season with an 18-4 overall record, their best record since the 2019 campaign.
Score: Saint Anselm 1, Assumption 2
Records: Saint Anselm 18-4, Assumption 16-6
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Grappone Stadium)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023
Attendance: 355
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Assumption earned the first penalty corner of the game after a quiet start to the first period at the 7:35 mark, but were unable to capitalize. In the final minute of the opening period, Elle Murray fired the first shot on target of the game, and the only shot of the period, for the Greyhounds that senior goalie Mackenzie McConnell (Concord Township, Maine) was able to turn aside for her first save of the afternoon.
- Saint Anselm got their attack going early in the second period with senior Abbey Bevens (Pelham, N.H.) ripping a shot that would get blocked. The Hawks won their first penalty corner of the contest shortly after, leading to a shot attempt by sophomore Ellie Brothers (Stafford Springs, Conn.).
- The Greyhounds capitalized on a counter-attack chance with Chloe Kaeller sending a cross to Lily Daly, whose diving one-timer gave Assumption the 1-0 lead at the 22:36 mark.
- The Hawks responded by earning four penalty corners all in the 27th minute of the second period. Senior Maddie Davis (Exeter, N.H.), junior Grace Michael (Hampton Falls, N.H.), and Brothers each tallied a shot attempt during the penalty corner onslaught, but a save from Assumption goalie Paige Gillette and two blocks would keep Saint Anselm off the scoreboard.
- The Hawks took control again in the third, winning four penalty corners and posting the only three shots of the period, however, the score would remain 1-0 Greyhounds heading into the final period of action.
- Undeterred by the shutout, the Hawks continued to push their attack in the fourth period with junior Amanda Lewandowski (Franklin, Mass.) registering a shot on frame, forcing another save by Gillette. Shortly after, Saint Anselm earned a penalty corner that sophomore Maggie Burchill (Braintree, Mass.) would step up to take. Junior Chloe Kapsambelis (Merrimack, N.H.) and Bevens each fired a shot during a scramble in front of Assumption's goal until Burchill finally snuck the ball past Gillette to tie the game at 1-1.
- About a minute later, the Greyhounds quickly regained the lead after Daly netted her second score of the game off a helper from Murray.
- Sophomore Millie Forster (Cholmondeley, Cheshire, England) and Davis each recorded late shots in the game, but Assumption held on to advance to the NCAA semifinal round with the 2-1 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Although Saint Anselm outshot Assumption 15-4 in the game, the Greyhounds converted on 2-of-3 shots on target in comparison to the Hawks scoring just one of their eight shots on frame.
- Burchill tallied the lone score for the Hawks, ending the season with nine total goals to set a new a career-high.
- McConnell registered one save and allowed two goals in net for Saint Anselm, while her counterpart Gillette recorded seven stops and allowed one goal.
- This marked the 37th meeting between these two programs with Saint Anselm now holding a 19-18 record in the all-time series.
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