BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team won its sixth straight game, the second-longest streak in program history, defeating Bridgeport University, 2-1, in its non-conference finale at Knights Field on Wednesday.
Highlights
- Saint Anselm improves to 3-3-5 all-time against Bridgeport, with this being the first win over the Purple Knights since 2007 and the first-ever road win in Bridgeport for the Hawks.
- The Hawks' current six-game win streak is the second-longest in program history, trailing only the 1997 Hawks, who won nine straight.
- Saint Anslem, who is receiving votes and sits just outside the top-25 for the second week in a row, was last ranked in the United States Coaches' Poll on October 3, 2023, when the Hawks were No. 23 in the country.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Swidorski tallied one save and allowed one goal as she improved to 10-1-2 on the season.
- Sophomore Abigail Wilder netted her first career goal, while freshman Connie Patturelli scored her second goal of the season and her second career game-winner.
- Sophomore Meghan Deneen recorded a point in her fourth straight game, including six of the last seven, tallying two assists. This was her fourth and fifth assists of the season as she leads the team and ranks fifth in the NE10 with 19 points.
- Freshman Madison Botta tallied her fifth assist of the season, tied for the most on the Hawks, as she's posted a point in four of the last five games.
- Freshman Addison Jerome also recorded one assist, her fourth on the year as she ranks second on the team with 10 points.
- The Hawks outshot Bridgeport 22-3 with a 9-2 edge in shots on goal. Saint Anselm had six corner kicks compared to just one for the Purple Knights.
How it Happened
Jerome had the first shot on goal of the game in the third minute as some good passing from the Hawks opened a shooting lane for the first-year forward from a few feet outside the left side of the box, but the Bridgeport goalie caught her shot.
Deneen sent a long crossing pass deep into the box in the 26th minute, with Jerome able to get a foot on the ball and redirect it in the direction of Wilder, who beat a Purple Knights defender to the ball with a left-footed strike that made its way into the back of the net to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Jerome, Botta, and sophomore
Daniella Atherton each had shots on net to close out the first half, but all three shots were saved by the Bridgeport goalie to keep the Purple Knights within one.
Swidorski made her first save of the game in the 64th minute on a deep shot that was easily picked up off the turf by the sophomore netminder.
Patturelli scored the insurance goal for the Hawks in the 89th minute that would prove to be the game-winner, as strong pressure from Deneen forced a turnover that found its way to Botta before she sent the pass to her classmate in the box for the goal.
Bridgeport got on the board with just 22 seconds remaining in the match on a through ball down the middle of the pitch that went right to Sharon Vasquez, who netted the last-second goal, but it was too late for the Purple Knights as the Hawks won the match, 2-1.
Up Next
The Saint Anselm College women's soccer team (10-2-2, 7-0-1 NE10) will host Southern New Hampshire University (4-6-2, 2-3-2 NE10) at Melucci Field on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. for its regular season finale with a chance to clinch the NE10 regular season title and a first-round bye in the NE10 Championship.
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