MANCHESTER, N.H. - Junior Josie Pecor (Williston, Vt.) scored her first two goals of the season, while classmate Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) added a goal and an assist to help the Saint Anselm College women's soccer team come away with a 3-2 win in their conference opener against Pace University on Saturday from Melucci Field.


UP NEXT:

• Saint Anselm continues their conference schedule next week when they host Franklin Pierce University on Tuesday, September 19th at 4:00 p.m. from Melucci Field. 
• The Hawks have next weekend off before hitting the road on Wednesday, September 27th for a 6:00 p.m. game at Saint Michael's College.

Score: Saint Anselm 3, Pace 2
Records: Saint Anselm (2-1-3); Pace (3-2-0)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Melucci Field)
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Attendance: 163


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Early in the first half, Pace's Shannon Selvaggio had an opportunity coming off of a scramble in Saint Anselm's box, but her shot was stopped on a diving effort from freshman goalkeeper Maggie Warner (Saugus, Mass.)
• In the ninth minute, fifth year captain Kathryn White (Georgetown, Mass.) played a thorugh ball into Pace's box to Josie Pecor (Williston, Vt.). Pecor fired a left-footed shot, but Pace goalkeeper Anna Fiore made her first save of the match.
• After controlling much of the first half, Saint Anselm was awarded a penalty kick in the 24th minute after Pecor was taken down in the box by a charging Fiore. Pecor lined up to take the shot from the spot, but was denied by the Setters netminder.
• Pecor nearly struck again in the 31st minute as she rifled in a shot from 25 yards out, but Fiore made a diving save to her left to keep the game scoreless.
• Just before the halftime horn, junior Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) came flying down the right wing. DiGilio got around her defender on the outside and ripped a shot from inside the box, forcing one more save from Fiore to put her total at seven for the first half.
• Despite the Hawks having much of the momentum and outshooting the Setters 7-1 at the break, it was Pace who opened the scoring five minutes into the second half. Allison Carr curled in a left-footed corner kick for the Setters. Her cross found teammate Ava Viebrock on the back post, who headed home her second goal of the season to give Pace the 1-0 lead.
• Viebrock nearly found the back of the net again in the 58th minute after getting past the Hawks back line, but her shot was saved with a sprawling effort from Warner. 
• The Hawks found the equailizer in the 61st minute. Senior Olivia Gotobed (North Andover, Mass.) whipped in an in-swinging corner-kick. Fiore came out to grab the loose ball for the Setters, but the ball bounced past her and DiGilio tapped it into the back of the net for her first goal of the year to tie the score.
• With just over 20 minutes remaining, Viebrock found herself with Hawks defender Delaney Glode (Kennebunkport, Maine) between her and the goal. Viebrock got just enough space to fire off a shot that beat Warner, but hit the left post and went out of play.
• In the 73rd minute, Saint Anselm freshman Livi Varetimos (Barnstable, Mass.) applied heavy pressure and forced a turnover by Pace's defense. She found an open Zarina Pinto (Groveland, Mass.) sprinting towards goal, but sophomore's shot was saved by Fiore.
• The Hawks took the lead with exactly 10 minutes remaining. Sophomore Gabrielle Chisholm (Danvers' Mass.) stepped forward to intercept a Setters goal kick. She headed the ball forward to DiGilio, who served in a high cross that found teammate Erin Rutherford (Ashburham, Mass.) on the back post. Rutherford headed the ball down to Pecor, who's strike found the lower left corner to put the Hawks ahead, 2-1.
• Less than four minutes later, Pecor found the back of the net again for her second goal of the game. White one-timed a pass from midfield all the way up to Pecor at the top of the box. Pecor spun around her defender and beat Fiore to the bottom left corner to give her side a 3-1 advantage.
• The Setters started to gain some momentum late in the match. Carr lined up again to take another corner kick for Pace, this time bending the ball directly into the back of the net to keep the Setters within striking distance at 3-2 with just over five minutes remaining.
• Saint Anselm was able to close out the final moments without giving Pace another good scoring opportunity to come away with their second consecutive victory and their first in Northeast-10 conference play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Saint Anselm outshot Pace 22-9 in the game while also holding an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Hawks also won the corner-kick battle with nine in the match while the Setters had seven.
• Warner recorded three saves in goal for the Hawks, while Fiore tallied eight saves for the Setters.
• DiGilio and Pecor each scored their first goals of the season for Saint Anselm, while DiGilio also collected an assist to put her total at a team-high four for the season.
• Rutherford also collected her first assist of the season, while Carr added a goal and an assist of her own for Pace.
• Pecor set a new career-high with five shots on goal in the game.
• This marked the 21st all-time meeting between these programs, with the Hawks coming away with four victories in the last five matchups.

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