Saint Anselm College

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Saint Anselm College men's soccer team scored in the 83rd minute to secure a 1-0 non-conference victory over Roberts Wesleyan University on Thursday afternoon at Melucci Field. 

Highlights 

• Junior Brian Jones scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute, marking the first game-winning goal of his career. Jones has now scored in back-to-back games and leads the Hawks with two goals this season
• Senior Connor Lovely recorded his first assist and point of the season on Jones' game-winning tally.  
• Graduate goalkeeper David Hood made two saves to record the shutout.  
• Saint Anselm outshot Roberts Wesleyan by a 16-9 margin and placed seven shots on goal compared to two for the Redhawks.  
• The Hawks generated 10 corner kicks compared to four for Roberts Wesleyan.  
• Saint Anselm has outshot its opponents, 49-37, through the first three games of the season.  

How it Happened

Saint Anselm controlled the offensive pressure throughout the opening half, generating seven shots while holding Roberts Wesleyan without a shot. Sophomore Luke Delia put the Hawks' first attempt on goal in the fifth minute before junior Chance Prouty followed with another shot on target in the 10th minute. 

Prouty threatened again in the 23rd minute, firing an attempt directly on net that was turned away by Roberts Wesleyan goalkeeper Juan Espinoza. Junior Andrew Plourde added another shot on goal in the 36th minute, but Espinoza made his fifth save of the half to send the teams into halftime scoreless.  

Roberts Wesleyan recorded its first shot on goal shortly after the break, forcing Hood to make his first save of the evening in the 47th minute. Jones answered with a shot on target three minutes later, but Espinoza made the save to keep the contest scoreless.  

Hood made his second save of the contest in the 63rd minute to keep Roberts Wesleyan off the scoreboard. Saint Anselm continued to search for the opening goal as the second half progressed, with Delia coming close in the 71st minute after sending an attempt over the crossbar.

The Hawks finally broke through with 7:19 remaining in regulation. Lovely set up Jones, who found the back of the net in the 83rd minute to give Saint Anselm the 1-0 advantage. The goal marked Jones' second in as many games and the first game-winning goal of his career.  

Roberts Wesleyan attempted three shots over the closing minutes, but the Saint Anselm defense kept each attempt off target to secure the 1-0 victory.  

Up Next

Saint Anselm (2-1-0) remains at home on Saturday, Sept. 5, hosting Daemen (0-2-1) in a non-conference matchup at Melucci Field at 1:30 p.m.