MANCHESTER, N.H. – The reigning national champion Saint Anselm College field hockey team kicked off its 2025 campaign with a nationally-ranked battle at Grappone Stadium on Saturday afternoon, falling to No. 3 East Stroudsburg by a final score of 2-1.
The Hawks, who entered the season in the No. 2 spot in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II National Coaches poll, fell to 0-1.
The contest was a rematch of the 2024 NCAA Division II Semifinals in which Saint Anselm blanked the Warriors by a final score of 3-0.
Highlights
- Sophomore midfielder Kelly Holmes scored the first goal of her collegiate career.
- Freshman goalie Layla Cameron made seven saves in her collegiate debut.
- Junior forward Meghan Smith led the offense with two shots on goal.
- The Hawks edged the Warriors in penalty corners awarded, 10-9.
East Stroudsburg jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, with Rylie McGrath scoring 9:26 into the contest before Megan Rafter notched the Warriors' second of the game, the eventual game-winner, with 8:35 left in the second quarter. East Stroudsburg outshot the Hawks, 9-6, in the opening 30 minutes of action.
Saint Anselm got on the board 10:05 into the second half, as Holmes finished a feed from senior Millie Forster to cut the deficit to one. Despite back-to-back corner chances in the waning moments of the third quarter, the Hawks were unable to register a shot.
The Hawks fended off three East Stroudsburg penalty corner chances in the fourth quarter but could not equalize before the final whistle.
Up Next
The Hawks will return to Grappone Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 7 for a non-conference matchup against cross-town rival No. 8 Southern New Hampshire. The start time is set for 1:00 p.m.
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