An opening weekend filled with excitement for the men’s soccer team saw an amazing performance against Saint Thomas Aquinas that unfortunately ended in a final score of 3-2 final after second overtime.

The Hawks played most of the game with strength but ran into defensive problems as St. Thomas Aquinas dominated late. The Hawks did not have a shot past the 91st minute.

The goalscorer for the Hawks was junior forward Emmet O’Callaghan. He netted two goals, one which was off a corner from junior defender Keith Hill’s cross three minutes in the game. This was the first point of Hill’s career.  O’Callaghan’s second goal came from a well-timed penalty kick.

For St. Thomas Aquinas, the goalscorers were junior forwards Chris Estevez and Brad Neal, and junior midfielder Luis Morales.

The Hawks experienced heartbreat as Luis Morales put the ball into the back of the Saint Anselm net off a corner in the 104th minute.

The second game for the Hawks took place on Sept. 9 against St. Michael’s College and resulted in a 1-1 tie.

The game was the first Community Cup that Saint Anselm and St. Michael’s took part in. The cup was started this year, focused on the Inti Academy of Manchester. The Inti Academy works with underprivileged youth in Manchester through the sport of soccer.

Players from both teams walked onto the field with children from Inti Academy and the Hawks and Purple Knights also presented a $1,000 check to the Inti Academy. The cup will be held at the beginning of ever season in a non-conference matchup between the two teams.

The game went back and forth until the 23rd minute when sophomore midfielder Nick Heckt scored his first goal as a Hawk by finishing a beautiful cross from O’Callaghan. St. Michael’s responded almost immediately but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.

Both teams traded chances, until sophomore forward Chris Cervantes, who was subbed on at halftime, finished off a cross from senior midfielder Matt Vlasich. to bring the score to 1-1.

Both teams kept fighting until the final double overtime whistle. A great show from the Hawks and the Purple Knights.

The Hawks will continue on to play Southern New Hampshire University on Sept. at 7 pm. The Hawks will be playing just after the Women’s team takes on the Penman at four.

While the opening weekend did not go as planned for the Hawks, they put on two very good showings and will come out determined to get their first win of the season.

Saint Anselm has a well rounded team this year, led by five seasonsed seniors. The Hawks added seven freshmen to their team this year who will look to their teammates for leadership in what will hopefully be a very successful season.