MANCHESTER, N.H. - Junior Allison Silverstein (Concord, N.H.) and sophomore Zarina Pinto (Groveland, Mass.) each scored their first goals of the season to help the Saint Anselm College women's soccer team secure their first victory of the 2023 campaign on Wednesday afternoon in their home opener against Bentley University. The game was a non-conference matchup, with the two sides set to meet in conference play next month in Waltham, Mass.

UP NEXT:

• Saint Anselm begins their in-conference schedule this weekend when they host Pace University on Saturday, September 16th at 12:00 p.m. from Melucci Field. 
• The Hawks conclude a three-game home stand next week when Franklin Pierce University travels to Manchester on Tuesday, September 19th for a 4:00 p.m. game from Melucci Field.

Score: Saint Anselm 2, Bentley 1
Records: Saint Anselm (1-1-3); Bentley (1-1-2)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Melucci Field)
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Attendance: 97

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Hawks offense put early pressure on the Falcons after registering 1-of-3 shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes of the game with senior captain Tara McCleary (Quincy, Mass.) forcing a save from Claire Ewen. Sydney O'Connor put the ball on frame in the 11th minute that freshman goalkeeper Maggie Warner (Saugus, Mass.) denied for her first save of the day. 
• Following three shots from Bentley midway through the first half, junior Allison Silverstein (Concord, N.H.) found the back of the net for the first time this season from a centering cross by junior Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) to give the Hawks a 1-0 led. Sophomore Zarina Pinto (Groveland, Mass.) and sophomore Gabrielle Chisholm (Danvers, Mass.) each ripped a shot on target that Ewen was able to collect. Warner posted another two saves to keep Saint Anselm in the lead heading into halftime. 
• In the second half, the Hawks quickly got on the attack registering four shots including two by junior Erin Rutherford (Ashburnham, Mass.) who almost got on the board after hitting the left woodwork in the 58th minute. Pinto earned her first goal of the season with 10 minutes remaining in the half to put the Hawks up 2-0 with DiGilio picking up her second assist of the game. 
• In the 83rd minute, Bentley got on the scoreboard thanks to Gabby Vachon to cut Saint Anselm's advantage in half, but the Hawks were able to seal the victory and post their first win of the season by a 2-1 final score. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Saint Anselm outshot Bentley 14-12 in the game while also holding an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Falcons won the corner kick battle with six in the match while the Hawks had three.
• Warner recorded three saves for the Hawks in her first collegiate win, while Ewen tallied six saves in net for the Falcons.
• Pinto and Silverstein each scored their first goals of the season for Saint Anselm, while DiGilio collected two assists to put her total at a team-high three for the season.
• Vachon scored her first goal of the season for the Falcons.
• This marked the 22nd all-time meeting between these programs, with the Hawks going undefeated in the last three matchups.

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