MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Sophie Smith scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the No. 8 Saint Anselm College field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Adelphi University on Saturday at Grappone Stadium. With the win, the Hawks secured the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming Northeast 10 Conference Championship.
Highlights
- Junior Sophie Smith scored the game-winning goal, finishing with two shots, both on goal.
- Junior Alexa Garthee scored the Hawks' first goal, while freshman Khloe Schultz and junior Kelly Holmes each recorded an assist.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Layla Cameron made six saves, as Saint Anselm finished with 15 shots, including eight on goal, and six penalty corners.
- The victory marked Saint Anselm's 10th all-time win over Adelphi, improving the Hawks' record in the series to 10-13.
- The Hawks finished as Co-Regular Season Champions with Assumption University, marking the fifth regular season title in program history and the first since 2022.
How It Happened
Adelphi opened the scoring with 5:59 to play in the first quarter, as Kristi Santos found the back of the cage to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage. Cameron made two saves during the opening period, while the Hawks generated two shots and earned two penalty corners.
Saint Anselm looked to even the score in the second quarter, as juniors Meghan Carey and Leila Härtel each put shots on goal, but Adelphi goalkeeper Tayla Szmak turned aside both attempts. Cameron added a save of her own at 3:19 of the period, as the Panthers maintained their 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The Hawks continued to apply pressure in the third quarter, while Cameron made three saves to keep the deficit at one. Saint Anselm earned a penalty corner with one second remaining in the period, and after senior Meghan Smith's initial attempt hit the post, the Hawks earned another opportunity. Garthee capitalized, scoring off an assist from Schultz as time expired to even the contest at 1-1.
Neither team found the back of the cage in the fourth quarter. Saint Anselm generated three shots during the period, including an attempt from Smith that was saved by Szmak at 4:54. The Hawks' defense held Adelphi without a shot on goal in the fourth quarter, sending the contest into overtime.
Adelphi earned a penalty corner 3:17 into the extra period, but the Hawks' defense kept the Panthers off the scoreboard. Following a green card called on Saint Anselm, Adelphi put another shot toward the cage, but the Saint Anselm defense blocked the attempt. After a failed clearance by Adelphi, the Hawks quickly transitioned, as Holmes connected with Smith, who finished the game-winning goal at 6:30 of overtime to secure the 2-1 victory and the No. 1 seed in the Northeast 10 Conference Championship.
Up Next
Saint Anselm (13-4, 8-1 NE10) earns a bye to the NE10 Championship semifinals and will return to Grappone Stadium on Friday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. The Hawks will face the winner of No. 4 Pace University and No. 5 Bentley University.
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