WORCESTER, Mass. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College field hockey team was crowned the 2023 Northeast-10 Conference Champions for the second time in program history after defeating Assumption University by a final score of 2-1 on Sunday.
Score: Saint Anselm 2, Assumption 1
Records: Saint Anselm 18-3, Assumption 15-6
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Brian Kelly Stadium)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023
Attendance: 327
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Assumption fired the first two shots of the game under the opening ten minutes of the period. At the 12:51 mark, the Greyhounds earned their first penalty corner of the day and capitalized as Mia Salah slotted the ball into the cage off a helper from May Van woudenburg to take a 1-0 lead just before the end of the period.
- Junior Amanda Lewandowski (Franklin, Mass.) ripped the first shot on frame for Saint Anselm which led to the first Hawks penalty corner in the opening minute of the second period. Junior Grace Michael (Hampton Falls, N.H.) collected the ball at the top of the arc and ripped an attempt that was blocked. Senior goalkeeper Mackenzie McConnell (Concord Township, Maine) made her first two saves of the contest to keep the Greyhounds off the scoreboard midway through the period.
- The Hawks continued to battle as halftime neared, earning a penalty corner with less than a minute left in the period. Sophomore Maggie Burchill (Braintree, Mass.) drilled a shot that went over Assumption goalkeeper Paige Gillette and into the top right corner to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the break.
- The Greyhounds registered the only three shots of the third period with McConnell posting another critical save to keep the score level. The Hawks netminder was tested again early in the fourth period, denying Callie Beauparlant on a scoring chance.
- Saint Anselm regained attacking momentum midway through the final period following a shot on goal by senior Maddie Davis (Exeter, N.H.) at the 53:00 mark. The Hawks would go on to win two consecutive penalty corners resulting in a pair of shots from Lewandowski. The offensive onslaught from Saint Anselm paid off as the squad earned a penalty stroke. Burchill stepped to take the penalty stroke attempt and lasered the ball into the upper left corner to put the Hawks ahead 2-1. Elle Murray had a scoring opportunity late in the period for the Greyhounds, but McConnell came up big for the Hawks to help seal the title victory over Assumption by a 2-1 final score.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm and Assumption each recorded 12 shots in the championship game, but the Hawks held an 8-7 edge in shots on target.
- Burchill notched the only two scores of the contest for Saint Anselm, her first career two-goal game, to help propel the Hawks past the Greyhounds.
- McConnell made six saves in the game while allowing only one goal, while her counterpart Gillette posted two saves and allowed two goals.
- McConnell, Michael, and Burchill each were recognized on the NE10 All-Tournament Team for their performances. McConnell also was named the Most Valuable Player during the post-championship ceremony.
- For the second time in program history, the Hawks have been crowned Northeast-10 Conference Champions, with their first title coming back in 2019.
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