MANCHESTER, N.H. – Following a pair of upsets in the Northeast 10 Conference Semifinals, it will be a battle between the third and fourth-seeded teams in the tournament in Sunday's title game as the No. 3-seeded Saint Anselm College field hockey team will play host to the No. 4 seed, Bentley University. The game is slated for a noon start at Grappone Stadium, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship on the line.
Saint Anselm, ranked No. 9 in the nation, took down second-seeded Adelphi University in the semifinal round as freshman Breanna Shorey netted the game-winning goal in double overtime to help the Hawks survive and advance. Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Wehrum made eight saves in her ninth shutout of the campaign.
Bentley took down top-seeded and No. 8 nationally-ranked Assumption University, 3-1, with Gracie Moore scoring twice and Nicole Hartz recording the game-winning goal.
This marks the sixth appearance in the NE10 Championship game in program history for the Hawks as they seek their third title. For the Falcons, this is their 12th all-time appearance in the finals, and first since the 2009 season when they were crowned champions for the ninth time.
Saint Anselm holds a 14-19 record against Bentley in the all-time series, which dates back to the 2001 campaign. The Hawks have won the last 12 meetings with the Falcons, including two victories in the 2025 regular season. Saint Anselm won the first game on the road, 2-1, in a non-conference meeting (Sep. 10) before Meghan Carey scored in double overtime to secure a 1-0 victory on Oct. 25.
The Hawks ride a seven-game winning streak into today's clash, while Bentley has won its last three contests.
Saint Anselm is allowing just 0.90 goals per game thanks to a strong defensive unit led by senior Millie Forster, who was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. The squad is also outscoring opponents 64-18 entering today's championship game. Shorey leads the team in points with 21 behind a seven-goal, seven-assist performance through 20 games in her first collegiate campaign. Shorey, along with classmate Bella DiFiore, was named to the NE10's All-Rookie Team. Forster, Shorey, and DiFiore are just three of the Hawks' all-conference selections, while Bentley saw six players earn postseason accolades, including Moore, who earned First Team honors. Moore enters the game second in the league in goals (14) and assists (11).
The winner of Sunday's game will hoist the NE10 trophy and earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship.
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