Women’s soccer scores twice in loss to Saint Anselm

The women’s soccer team is in the thick of their NE10 schedule. They sit at the bottom of the table, holding only one point. 

On Saturday, Oct. 11 the university welcomed the Hawks of Saint Anselm College, who find themselves at the top of the NE10 standings. 

“We came out really strong. We had a more offensive mindset, which we haven’t had in previous games,” midfielder Julia Hargraves, a sophomore, said. 

The team jumped out to a lead in the 15th minute thanks to a set-piece goal from Hargraves. 

From an angle that looked impossible, she curled a shot with the inside of her foot, around the wall and into the upper corner of the net. 

It was her first career goal. 

Midfielder Julia Salley, a freshman, made her presence known in the middle third. She won 50/50 balls and kept composed possession of the ball when necessary. 

The Owls’ defense was disciplined. For most of the half, the Hawks were unable to garner any real scoring chances from open play. 

The Owls were vulnerable defensively on set pieces. 

After conceding three corners in relatively quick succession, the Owls relented on the fourth. Saint Anselm would score the tying goal in the 35th minute. 

The team did not get frantic. Despite playing most of the half without possession, the Owls took the lead before the end of the first half. 

Forward Nicky Deslauriers, a senior, received a pass from defender Bella Laperle, a junior, on the wing. Deslauriers took on her defender. 

She muscled her way into scoring position, before playing a dangerous ball into the 6-yard box. 

“I looked up, I saw a few people in the box, but my shot ended up going in the goal instead,” Deslauriers said. “It was a great team goal.” 

Despite the credit she gave to her teammates, it was really Deslauriers’ goal. 

“She’s outstanding with the ball. She protects the ball. She can turn on players,” Head Coach Adam Cohen said. “She does a good job.” 

The team celebrated a 2-1 lead heading into the half. 

In the second half, Saint Anselm had energy. They applied almost constant pressure to the Owls’ backline. 

The Owls maintained their lead well into the second period. But, once again, dead balls were a thorn in their side. 

The Hawks would capitalize in the 69th minute: another corner and another header into the back of the net. The game was tied. 

The Owls saw three points turn into zero. In the 73rd minute, the Hawks scored again. 

Hargraves, Deslauriers and the rest of the team continued to fight, but were unable to muster much of a response in the final twenty minutes. 

“We’re not happy with the result,” Deslauriers said. “There are always learning opportunities, but next game? We have to get the win.” 

The game ended 3-2, in favor of Saint Anselm. 

“We will stay positive. This won’t set us back for next game,” Hargraves said.