The Saint Anselm field hockey team has picked up right where it left off last season. The team comes in with an 8-1 record and is ranked number seven out of 300 Division 2 schools nationwide . The Hawks are currently ridding an eight game winning streak after losing their opener to Kutztown. All of this has taken place, despite being on the road more often than not this year.

On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Hawks gave their fans a run for their money as they pulled out a nail biter win in overtime against Pace University. Pace started the scoring in the NE-10 conference matchup. However, the Hawks showed a will to win in the second half, scoring twice in the first ten minutes with senior Rose Mooney giving Saint A’s the advantage over Pace. The Setters responded five minutes later in the back-and-forth contest, finding the back of the net, sending the game into overtime. In the extra session, Allia Connolly was able to score the game-winning goal as the Hawks won an entertaining, thriller 3-2.

The next day Saint A’s went on the road to face off against Mercy College on Sept. 18 in a non-conference matchup. The Hawks controlled the game throughout, outshooting the Mavericks 18-6. Saint A’s tripled Mercy on the shot chart and this was the same result on the scoreboard too, as the women won convincingly 3-1. The goal scorers for Saint A’s were Allia Connolly, Rose Mooney, and Jackie Guillemette. For junior Allia Connolly, that was her fourth goal of the year, and third in that two game stretch against Pace and Mercy.

The following Wednesday, on Sept. 21 the Hawks found themselves playing against crosstown rival, the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen at the friendly confine of Grappone Stadium. At the end of the first half, the Hawks led 1-0 on a goal form Emma Kincaid. But, the Penmen put the pressure on Saint A’s as they scored a late equalizer with less than 10 minutes to go in the contest. This didn’t deter the Hawks however, as they quickly answered what proved to be the game-clincher by Erin Collins.

Saint A’s won their eighth game in a row on Sept. 24 in a 4-0 victory versus St. Thomas Aquinas College. Freshman Hannah Friend had a hat trick for the Hawks in the tilt. Friend was named to NE-10 Rookie of the Week as a result. Saint A’s dominated the game recording 26 shots while holding the Spartans without a single shot the entire night. In addition, Saint A’s attempted all 16 corner shots in the contest.

Coach Carolyn Robitaille told the Crier, “Our biggest strengths are our experience and depth. We have 21 returning players from last year’s team and 16 upperclassmen. Similarly, we are able to go two or three players deep at any position on the field and remain highly competitive, which helps us stay fresh throughout a game and throughout the long season.”

Saint A’s field hockey once again is one of the best teams thus far in the 2016 fall sports season and looks to best their remarkable 15-4 season a year ago.

The women played Assumption on Sept. 27, winning their eighth straight win and third in a row at Grappone Stadium. The Lady Hawks shut out the Greyhounds 1-0. The team travels to New York to begin the October schedule to play the number one team in all of Division 2 field hockey, LIU Post on Saturday, Oct. 1 for a 12 p.m. tilt with the final remaining unbeaten team in the country.