This season, the Saint Anselm softball team will look to improve on last season’s 19-27 record. This year the Hawks are led by first year Head Coach Shawna Bellaud. Bellaud, a Hooksett, N.H. native and a graduate of Lock Haven, takes over the coaching duties after spending last season as an assistant coach at Division 1 Coastal Carolina University. Bellaud will be assisted by Merrimack College graduate Jillian Gagnon, who is also in her first season.

In a pre-season Northeast-10 coaches poll, the Hawks were picked to finish 6th in the newly formed Northeast division.

Bellaud will look to key returners Nicole Boucher, Monique Gauthier, and Lauren Galavotti to bolster the offense. Boucher, a junior shortstop, hit an impressive .363 last season including team highs with 13 stolen bases, 13 walks, 5 triples, 11 doubles, 30 runs scored and 53 hits. Boucher also added 20 RBIS and 2 homeruns. Boucher had an impressive .410 on-base percentage and a .548 slugging percentage.

Gauthier, a junior captain and centerfielder, is coming off a season in which she hit .285 with 17 RBIS and 39 hits. Gauthier was tied for a team-high with five homeruns.

Galavotti, a senior captain and catcher, hit .323 last season with two homeruns and 42 hits. Galavotti also led the team with 21 RBIs.

The Hawks are scheduled to open up their home slate Tuesday, April 2 against Franklin Pierce Ravens.