No. 8 field hockey eases past Southern New Hampshire, 2-0

 

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College field hockey team secured a 2-0 victory over the host Penmen from Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday.

Saint Anselm moves to 8-3 overall on the season,

winning its 12th consecutive game against Southern New Hampshire dating back to the Penmen program inception in 2014. The hosts drop to 1-7 overall in 2021 and to 1-5 against Northeast-10 Conference opponents.

Senior Sarah Bagley (North Andover, Mass.) scored two goals for the Hawks, giving her five goals in just 11 games on the season. She is in the midst of a career year for Saint Anselm, posting 11 points with her five goals and an assist (5-1=11).

Just 34 seconds into the game, Bagley got her team on the board with what proved to be the game-winning goal. On a ball sent into the circle from the right side, junior Maeve Murphy (Scituate, Mass.) took an initial swipe at the ball in front of the Penmen net and the ricochet spilled out to Bagley near the far post.

Bagley put home her second goal with just under 13 minutes left in regulation time. Senior Carly LaCasse (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) took a swipe at the ball on the goal line, sending it toward the front of the net. SNHU netminder Kate Pigsley crashed the post to cut down LaCasse's angle, but the ball skipped past her and to an open cage for Bagley.

Sophomore Mackenzie McConnell (Concord Township, Maine) made four saves in her fourth shutout of the season. Across seven games, she has conceded just five goals all year and has compiled a save percentage of 0.875. Pigsley drew the loss for the Penmen, making four saves on six shots.

Saint Anselm held the advantage in shots, 8-5. Southern New Hampshire was awarded three of the game's four penalty corners, but could not convert.

Saint Anselm returns to action Saturday, Oct. 9 for a 1 p.m. showdown with visiting Mercy (N.Y.) College at 1 p.m. The Hawks own a 6-1 record against the Mavericks in all-time program history.