MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior
Kendra Sabotka (Rutland, Vt.) recorded her second straight hat trick as the nationally ranked #24 Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team defeated Saint Michael's in a non-conference matchup on Friday afternoon by a final score of 16-4. Eight different student-athletes scored for the Hawks, who have now won their last seven games against the Purple Knights.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm hosts Franklin Pierce in a non-conference game on Tuesday, February 25th at 4:00 p.m. from Grappone Stadium.
Score: #24 Saint Anselm 16, Saint Michael's 4
Records: #24 Saint Anselm (2-0, 1-0 NE10), Saint Michael's (1-3, 0-0 NE10)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Grappone Stadium)
Date: Friday, February 21st, 2025
Attendance: 77
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Saint Anselm got off to a strong start, scoring six unassisted goals in the first quarter. Senior Samantha Rivet (Sudbury, Mass.) opened the scoring less than four minutes into the game for the Hawks.
- A few minutes later, freshman Ayla McDermod (Hanover, Mass.) scored two goals less than a minute apart to put Saint Anselm ahead, 3-0. After two more goals by the Hawks, Rivet closed the quarter with her second of the game to make it 6-0.
- Two minutes into the second quarter, Sabotka finished off her second goal of the game while the Hawks were up a player. The onslaught continued as junior Brianna Fruci (Walpole, Mass.) found the back of the net midway through the quarter, increasing the lead to 8-0 for Saint Anselm.
- With 4:15 left in the half, Audrey Conover got Saint Michael's on the board with an unassisted player-down goal. Ginnie Hamilton also scored for the Purple Knights late in the half.
- Two more goals by the Hawks allowed them to maintain a 10-2 lead at halftime. Senior Abigail Christmas (Elmira, N.Y.) scored her first of the game while the Hawks were up a player and Rivet completed her hat trick with under two minutes remaining.
- Three minutes into the third quarter, Christmas found the back of the net for the second time. Addy Fenton answered a few minutes later for Saint Michael's with a player-up goal that made it 11-3.
- Saint Anselm went on to score four unanswered goals to end the quarter. Sabtoka secured her hat trick for the second straight game, while Christmas also scored her third goal and senior Jaycie Balboni (Billerica, Mass.) scored her second as the Hawks took a 15-3 lead into the final period.
- The two teams scored one goal apiece in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Caitlin Walsh (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored for the second straight game for the Hawks, who soared to the 16-4 victory on home turf.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm held a 36-21 advantage in total shots as well as a 22-12 edge in shots on goal over Saint Michael's.
- The Purple Knights held a 14-9 lead over the Hawks on draw controls. Hamilton registered a game-high six draw controls individually to lead the visitors, while sophomore Lucy Mawn (Harwich, Mass.) posted five draw controls to lead the Hawks.
- Saint Anselm also maintained a slight edge in the ground ball battle, scooping up 22 compared to 17 picked up by Saint Michael's. Senior goaltender Elizabeth Driscoll (Marblehead, Mass.) and juniors Julia Marsden (Norfolk, Mass.) and Elyse Scales (Walpole, Mass.) led Saint Anselm with three ground balls apiece.
- The Purple Knights committed 25 turnovers in the game, while the Hawks had 18 giveaways.
- The Hawks defense caused 17 of those turnovers, while the Purple Knights defense caused 10. Scales led Saint Anselm with three caused turnovers.
- Saint Anselm went 20 for 27 (74.1 percent) on clear attempts. Saint Michael's went 15 for 19 (78.9 percent) on clear attempts.
- On free-position shots, the Hawks scored six times out of 10 opportunities. The Purple Knights were held scoreless on three free-position chances.
- The game featured 14 penalties with both teams earning seven. The physical matchup saw the two sides combine for five green cards and nine yellow cards.
- Saint Anselm scored two player-up goals in the game, while Saint Michael's scored one player-up goal and one player-down goal.
- Christmas, Rivet, and Sabotka all recorded hat tricks in the game for the Hawks. It is the second hat trick of the season and third of the career for Sabtoka, who now leads the team and the NE10 with six goals so far this season.
- Balboni and McDermod scored two goals each, while three other players scored once for Saint Anselm. Fruci tallied a goal and an assist for the Hawks as well.
- Four different players scored goals for Saint Michael's with one other player picking up an assist.
- Two different goaltenders saw action for Saint Anselm. Driscoll earned the win after playing the first three quarters and making six saves, while freshman Aiko Fujita (Southold, N.Y.) played the final quarter and made two stops.
- With 26 career goaltending victories, Driscoll is now two wins away from breaking the program record of 27 that has stood for almost a decade.
- Maddie Nutter made five saves and allowed 15 goals in three quarters of action between the pipes for the Purple Knights. Laura Dickerson made one save in the cage during the final quarter.
- This marked the 28th all-time meeting between these two programs. Saint Anselm improves to 18-10 overall against Saint Michael's in the series that began in 2000.
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