Saint Anselm College

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The fourth-seeded Saint Anselm College women's soccer team advanced to the Northeast 10 Conference Championship semifinals following a 2-1 victory over fifth-seeded Assumption University on Sunday afternoon at Melucci Field.

The Hawks improve to 9-6-1 overall behind goals from junior Amarys Jimenez and sophomore Madison Botta. After taking a 1-0 lead in the first half, Saint Anselm responded to an early second-half equalizer from the Greyhounds with Botta's game-winning header in the 62nd minute to secure a spot in the conference semifinals.

Highlights

• Jimenez led the Hawks with three points on one goal and one assist, recording five shots.
• Botta netted the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute, finishing with five shots, including four on goal.
• Freshman Bianca Maciel and sophomore Nicole Schneider each recorded an assist on the Hawks' opening goal.
• Junior Kate Crowley added an assist on Botta's game-winning goal.
• Junior goalkeeper Samantha Swidorski recorded three saves across 90 minutes of action.
• Saint Anselm outshot Assumption 21-10, including a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal.
• Both teams finished with six corner kicks.

How It Happened
Saint Anselm broke through in the 29th minute after Schneider won possession back from an Assumption defender and tapped the ball to Maciel. The freshman sent the ball toward the goal, where Jimenez was positioned to redirect it into the net for a 1-0 advantage at 28:05.

The Hawks maintained their one-goal advantage through halftime after outshooting the Greyhounds 9-3 in the opening 45 minutes.

Assumption responded just under three minutes into the second half when Elizabeth Schoeneberger tracked down a ball played forward, gained possession and slipped a shot past Swidorski to even the score at 1-1 at 47:43.

Saint Anselm regained the lead in the 62nd minute after Crowley played the ball out wide to Jimenez, who delivered a cross into the box. Botta connected with a header that crossed just over the goal line, putting the Hawks ahead 2-1 at 61:20.

The Greyhounds continued to pressure the Hawks in the second half, generating six corner kicks, but Swidorski and the Saint Anselm defense held firm to preserve the one-goal advantage.

Saint Anselm finished with 12 second-half shots, while limiting Assumption to seven, to secure the 2-1 postseason victory.

Up Next
The fourth-seeded Hawks advance to the Northeast 10 Conference Championship semifinals, where they will travel to face top-seeded Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m.