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Tara McCleary - Saint Anselm vs. Saint Michael's
1
Saint Michael's SMC (4-1-1, 0-1-1)
2
Winner St. Anselm STA (3-1-2, 1-0-1)
Saint Michael's SMC
(4-1-1, 0-1-1)
1
Final
2
St. Anselm STA
(3-1-2, 1-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Michael's SMC 0 1 1
St. Anselm STA 2 0 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Fast Start Helps Women's Soccer Top Saint Michael's, 2-1

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Two early goals in the opening four minutes of the game by fifth-year Tara McCleary (Quincy, Mass.) and senior Sydney Wnek (Haverhill, Mass.) helped the Saint Anselm College women's soccer team defeat previously undefeated Saint Michael's College by a final score of 2-1 on Tuesday. Senior Riley DiGilio (Danvers, Mass.) assisted both goals for the Hawks and increased her point total to 13 on the season with five goals and three assists through six matches.
UP NEXT:
  • Saint Anselm hosts nationally ranked No. 15 Adelphi on Saturday, September 28th at 12:00 p.m. from Melucci Field.

Score: Saint Anselm 2, Saint Michael's 1
Records: Saint Anselm (3-1-2, 1-0-1); Saint Michael's (4-1-1, 0-1-1)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Melucci Field)
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Attendance: 80
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Saint Anselm made the most out of the game's first scoring opportunity and quickly jumped out to a 1-0 advantage. Just over a minute into the match, DiGilio got the ball on the right side and served a cross into the box. McCleary tracked it down and beat Saint Michael's goalkeeper Juliana Anastopoulos with a one-time, right-footed finish.
  • A couple of minutes later, DiGilio again drove down the right wing and played a perfect ball across the face of goal that found Wnek at the back post. The senior's one-time shot with her left foot hit off the inside of the right post and crossed the goal line to make it a 2-0 game.
  • In the 22nd minute, DiGilio created another attacking chance for the Hawks. This time, the senior flew past her defender with several dribbles into the box, but her close-range effort was denied by Anastopolous.
  • At the 30 minute mark, Saint Anselm freshman goalkeeper Samantha Swidorski (Woodbury, Minn.) made her first save of the afternoon when she corralled a shot attempt off a set piece by Kallan Malabad of Saint Michael's.
  • The Hawks earned a couple more scoring chances late in the half off of a deep free kick and a corner-kick, but Anastopolous was good for two more saves and the score remained 2-0 at halftime.
  • A couple minutes into the second half, senior Josie Pecor (Williston, Vt.) stole the ball for Saint Anselm in the attacking third. She turned and fired a knuckling shot towards the goal, but it was collected by Anastopolous once again.
  • Swidorski made her second stop of the day a few minutes later after hauling in a long range shot attempt by Faith Kosiba of the Purple Knights.
  • In the 54th minute, Saint Michael's cut the deficit in half after a goal was scored by Scarlett Brookes. Bella DelVecchio lofted a service into the box that made its way to Brookes on the back side. Her one-touch finish rolled past Swidorski and into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
  • Both teams earned free kicks in their attacking halves shortly after that, but those attempts each sailed high.
  • Only one more save was required by Swidorski for the rest of the match, which she easily made on a shot by DelVecchio from distance. The Hawks were not able to buy a late insurance goal, but were able to hold on for the 2-1 conference victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • Saint Anselm outshot Saint Michael's, 16-10, and also held a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.
  • The Purple Knights had two corner kicks in the match compared to just one for the Hawks.
  • The visitors committed 15 fouls while the Hawks committed nine. There were no cards issued in the game.
  • McCleary picked up her first goal of the season and fifth career goal for Saint Anselm. Wnek scored for the first time since the 2021 season and now has three career goals.
  • DiGilio collected a pair of assists and is now second in the Northeast-10 with 13 points this season (five goals and three assists). The senior is tied for seventh in all of NCAA Division II in both goals and points
  • Brookes scored the lone goal with DelVecchio picking up the assist for Saint Michael's.
  • Swidorski made three saves and picked up her first collegiate win for the Hawks. Anastopoulos made seven saves for the Purple Knights in the loss.
  • This marked the 42nd all-time meeting between Saint Anselm and Saint Michael's. The Hawks are now 27-8-7 against the Purple Knights in the series that began in 1984.
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