WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior Nina Muir scored two goals to lead the Saint Anselm College women's soccer team to its fifth straight win, defeating Bentley University, 2-1, at the Bentley Soccer Field on Friday in a Northeast 10 Conference matchup.
 
Highlights

• With the win, Saint Anselm (9-2-2, 7-0-1 NE10) remains in sole possession of first place in the Northeast 10 standings with 22 points.
• This is the first time since 1994 that the Hawks have been undefeated in NE10 play through eight games. The '94 Hawks finished their NE10 regular season slate undefeated, going 8-0-1 before falling in the NE10 semifinals to Merrimack.
• Saint Anslem, who is receiving votes and sits just outside the top-25, was last ranked in the United States Coaches' Poll on October 3, 2023, when the Hawks were No. 23 in the country.
• Saint Anselm improves to 21-12-4 against Bentley all-time, with this being the first win in Waltham since 2021 and the first win against the Falcons since 2023.
• The Hawks' five-game win streak matches their longest string of wins since the 2023 season and is tied for the second-longest in program history, a feat hit three times now (2025, 2023, 2018), trailing only the 1997 Hawks, who won nine straight.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Swidorski tallied two saves while allowing one goal in the win, improving to 9-1-2 on the season.
• Muir netted her fifth and sixth goals of the season, now up to seven for her career, with her second game-winner of the year. She ranks second on the Hawks in goals and points (13).
• Sophomore Meghan Deneen recorded a point in her third straight game and five of the last six, tallying an assist on Muir's second goal of the game. This was her third assist of the season as she leads the team and ranks fifth in the NE10 with 17 points.
• Freshman Madison Botta tallied her fourth assist of the season, tied for the second-most on the Hawks, as she's posted a point in three of the last four games.

How it Happened
 
The first five shots of the game, including three on goal, went to the Hawks, with the fifth finally finding the back of the net in the 18th minute as Muir had a crossing pass ricochet right back to her in the box, leaving her open for a right-footed shot that went past the Bentley goalie as she dove to her left.
 
Muir scored again in the 22nd minute on a nearly identical play, this time coming off a nice upfield pass from Botta, to give the Hawks a two-goal advantage.
 
Less than a minute later, Swidorski made her first save of the game, which would be the last shot on target of the first half for either team, as the score remained 2-0 after 45 minutes of action.
 
Muir had the first two shots of the second half for the Hawks, with one going on target that the Falcons' goalie saved, to keep Bentley within two through the 62nd minute.
 
Despite guessing correctly, Swidorski allowed her first goal in three games in the 63rd minute on a penalty kick off the right foot of Abi Hennessey that snuck into the bottom right corner of the net to make the score 2-1.
 
Muir had another shot from deep in the box in the 68th minute, but it was saved by Holly DiPalo, keeping the Falcons within one. The Hawks' defense remained stout for the rest of the game, as Saint Anselm won, 2-1.
 
Up Next
The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team (9-2-2, 7-0-1 NE10) will play its non-conference finale on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. in Bridgeport, Conn., taking on Bridgeport University (3-6-4, 3-4-1 CACC) at Knights Field. 

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