MANCHESTER, N.H. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team matched a program record on Wednesday as the Hawks downed crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire University by a 13-10 score.

The Hawks improve to 8-0 for the first time since the 2014 season, matching the longest winning streak to open a season in program history. Saint Anselm also moved to 4-0 in Northeast-10 Conference play with the win.

Saint Anselm is ranked No. 22 in the most recent ILWomen/IWLCA Division II National Poll while Southern New Hampshire (6-2, 2-2 NE10) sits at No. 24 in the same poll.

Junior Jess Sullivan (Wrentham, Mass.) netted five goals and added one assist for a game-high six points. Senior Lexi Palmisano (Woburn, Mass.) and sophomore Samantha Rivet (Sudbury, Mass.) scored a pair of goals each in the tilt.

The Hawks opened the scoring with 10:38 remaining in the first quarter, on a goal from Sullivan. Saint Anselm would add goals from junior Alison Ferullo (North Andover, Mass.) and Rivet in the opening quarter as the Hawks led by a score of 4-0 through the opening 15 minutes.

Palmisano added both of her goals early in the second quarter which capped a six-goal scoring run for the Hawks. The Penmen netted four the next six goals in the frame to push the score to 8-4 at the half.

Southern New Hampshire closed the gap to one at 8-7 with three consecutive goals out of the intermission, coming from Skylar Renaud, Courtney Cronin, and Alexis DeLucia. However, the Hawks responded with three goals of their own in the final 3:44 of the third quarter to reestablish their four-goal advantage.

Sullivan and junior Erin Doyle (Weymouth, Mass.) scored back-to-back goals midway through the fourth stanza which gave Saint Anselm a 13-7 lead. In the remaining time, the Penmen netted three goals to bring the score to its eventual final of 13-10.

Sophomore Elizabeth Driscoll (Marblehead, Mass.) collected her eighth win of the season on Wednesday as she turned aside a career-high 13 shots on goal for the Hawks.

Both programs put 23 shots on goal in the contest and were 14-of-16 in clearing attempts. The Hawks held a 17-10 advantage in draw controls and were led by Palmisano and Doyle who grabbed eight and seven apiece.

The Hawks are back in action on Saturday, Apr. 1 when they head to Garden City, N.Y. to battle the No. 9 team nationally, Adelphi University, in NE10 play. The game is slated for a 12 p.m. start.