By Matt Cain
Contributor
The Owls scored twice in the game’s final ten minutes to come out with a 2-1 victory against the Saint Anselm College Hawks. The Owls now improved their record to 3-3-1 on the year and 1-2 in NE10 Conference play.
Opening the game, the Hawks played with physicality, eventually scoring late in the first half of the game, stealing the momentum from the Owls going into halftime. In the first half, the Owls started out slow, making critical errors and racking up five fouls.
“It’s very hard, especially when our first half was sloppy, but we came out with the win and stuck together like a family,” midfielder Samuel Nagy, a junior, said.
The Hawks’ defense would hold the Owls scoreless for the remainder of the first due to these errors. The Owls and Saint Anselm have played each other multiple times over the years, which caused this tense and physical matchup between the two schools.
“They are tough to play against; they sit in a low block, and it makes it harder for us on the offensive side,” defender and team captain Alex da Cunha, a senior, said.
They came out motivated in the second half, taking the momentum back. As the end of the game came nearing, forward Jalen Jean, a senior, tied the game on a wide-open shot. Jean was one-on-one with Saint Anselm’s goalkeeper when he kicked past him and into the goal. This goal would be the fifth of his career.
Two minutes later, forward Jose Clemente, a senior, scored a goal to put the Owls on top.
Clemente has been on a hot streak since the start of the season; he currently leads the team in goals.
“This group doesn’t shy down from that scenario. We fight until the end,” Head Coach Kevin Anderson said.
This comeback win showed that the university is ready for anything that comes their way.
There is a rich history between these two NE10 teams. Saint Anselm is a resilient team, and always gives the Owls problems on the offensive side of the ball.
It was clear, the Owls pulled out the win due to their defense. Goalkeeper Devin Juan, a senior, scored a crucial save, preventing the Hawks from going up by two.
They are 1-2 in the conference, with high hopes of competing with the best in the NE10. They look to take home a victory in every conference matchup and put the conference on notice.
With their resilient, hard-working and technical style of play, the Owls look to be a top team in the NE10 and even get a tournament bid. The next game will be on the road, where they are 0-2. A big road win can build momentum and keep their winning streak.
“We are looking to improve as coaches and improve as players. The next game will be for the guys to grow and evolve,” Anderson said.
VOL. 64-ISSUE 4