MANCHESTER, N.H. - Senior
Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with just over eight minutes remaining to lift the Saint Anselm College women's soccer team past Franklin Pierce in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon. It was DiGilio's team-leading third goal of the season, all in the last two games.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm is back home against Wilmington (Del.) on Sunday, September 15th at 1:00 p.m.
Score: Saint Anselm 1, Franklin Pierce 0
Records: Saint Anselm 2-0-0; Franklin Pierce 2-1-0
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Melucci Field)
Date: Wednesday, September 11th, 2024
Attendance: 137
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Franklin Pierce looked to have scored the game's opening goal about six minutes in, but the center referee blew his whistle and disallowed the goal.
- Despite the early chance for the Ravens, the Hawks started to shift the momentum in their favor and created several attacking opportunities within the first 15 minutes.
- Saint Anselm fifth-year senior Tara McClary (Quincy, Mass.) attempted a strike from close range, but Franklin Pierce goalkeeper Emilie Fox made the stop. DiGilio and junior Zarina Pinto (Groveland, Mass.) also had shots that missed the target early in the match.
- In the 19th minute, Hawks sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Warner (Saugus, Mass.) made her first save of the afternoon, denying a strike from Ruby Conroy of the Ravens to keep it scoreless.
- That Franklin Pierce chance did not deter Saint Anselm from continuing their offensive attack, as the home team quickly rattled off another three shot attempts in about a two-minute span. Two of those shots, one from Pinto and one from junior Nina Cuccaovia (Danvers, Mass.) were on frame and required Fox to make another pair of saves.
- Over the final 25 minutes of the first half, Warner was only tested with one more shot on goal by the Ravens. The Hawks had just two shot attempts in that final portion of the half and the score remained 0-0 at the break.
- McCleary got the early chance of the second half with her second shot on target of the match, but Fox made a comfortable save on a shot that was drifting towards her the whole way.
- Franklin Pierce woke up over the next few minutes and created a flurry of chances in and around the Saint Anselm penalty box. The Ravens ripped off a two-minute sequence that saw three shots on target, but Warner was up to the task and collected all three.
- Both sides earned a pair of corner kicks midway through the second half, but neither could break the drought.
- With just over eight minutes to go, the Hawks served in a ball that ended up bouncing to DiGilio at the top of the 18 yard-box. The senior cut to her left foot and fired a shot that floated up and over the goalkeeper and into the top left corner, giving Saint Anselm a 1-0 lead.
- The Hawks earned two more corners late in the match and the Ravens attempted one more shot from long distance, but DiGilio's goal proved to be the difference as Saint Anselm improved to 2-0 on the season with the 1-0 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm held a 16-9 lead in total shot attempts and an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.
- The Hawks more than doubled the Ravens in corner kicks in the match and led, 9-4. The home team committed 11 fouls in the game, while the visitors committed seven.
- DiGilio scored her third goal of the season and leads the team. She now has eight goals for her career.
- Warner made five saves for the Hawks in her first clean sheet of the season and improves to 2-0. Fox made seven stops for the Ravens while allowing the lone goal.
- This marked the 43rd all-time meeting between these two programs. The Hawks are now 7-34-2 against the Ravens in the series.
STAY CONNECTED:
