Saint Anselm College

KEENE, N.H. – Sophomore Alec O'Connor scored twice, including the game-winning goal just 1:34 into overtime, to lift the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Keene State College on Saturday evening.

The Hawks improve to 1-1-0 on the season after overcoming an early deficit to secure their first victory of the 2026-27 campaign. O'Connor netted his second and third goals of the season, while sophomore Sean Connolly added his first goal of the year. In net, senior PJ Benites turned aside a career-high 44 shots to earn his first win of the season.

Highlights

• O'Connor led the Hawks with two goals, including the overtime game-winner, while recording a team-high four shots on goal.
• Connolly scored his first goal of the season, giving Saint Anselm a 2-1 advantage early in the second period.
• Benites stopped 44 of 46 shots, including all 14 he faced in the third period and two more in overtime.
• Sophomore Sebastian Rogles, junior Conor Kelly, senior Chris Cordeiro, and sophomore Dylan Reynolds each recorded an assist.
• Keene State held a 46-22 advantage in shots on goal, while Saint Anselm finished 1-for-5 on the power play.

How It Happened
Keene State opened the scoring at the 6:21 mark of the first period when Thor Hansen converted on the power play, with assists from Zackary Chouinard and Josh Steele.

Saint Anselm responded early in the second period as O'Connor found the back of the net on the power play at 3:24, assisted by Rogles and Kelly, to even the score at 1-1.

Just under two minutes later, Connolly gave the Hawks their first lead of the contest with an even-strength goal at 5:21, assisted by Cordeiro.

The Owls answered at 10:14 of the second period when Marcus Chrisafideis scored on the power play to tie the game at 2-2.

Neither team found the back of the net in the third period, despite Keene State outshooting Saint Anselm 14-4. Benites turned aside all 14 attempts to send the contest into overtime.

After Benites made two saves in the opening minute of overtime, O'Connor buried the game-winning goal at 1:34 off an assist from Reynolds to seal the 3-2 victory.

Up Next
The Hawks open Northeast 10 Conference action on Friday, November 6, traveling to Worcester, Massachusetts, to face Assumption at the Worcester Ice Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.