Saint Anselm Tops Stonehill, 1-0


Junior captain Adam Colella finished with two saves in today's season-opener against Saint Anselm.

Hawks score early, hold off Skyhawks to win Catholic Cup opener

EASTON, Mass. (September 6, 2013) – The Stonehill College men's soccer team dropped its season opener today to Saint Anselm College, 1-0, in the inaugural Catholic Cup at Skyhawk Field.

Sophomore forward Sean Smith (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) got Saint Anselm on the board in the 13th minute, heading a ball inside the far post off a corner kick from senior forward Brian Ayers (North Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep). Stonehill would rally and get several shots on goal in the second half, but the Skyhawks were never able to beat Saint Anselm senior goalkeeper Mark Kotsopoulos (Shrewsbury, Mass./Saint John's). Kotsopoulos made five saves in the contest, earning his first shutout of 2013.

Stonehill had a great opportunity to tie the score with a minute remaining in the game, when sophomore forward Drew Montano (Avon, Conn./Avon) went up to head a ball in front of the net and collided with Kotsopoulos as he made the save. Junior goalkeeper and captain Adam Colella (Wilmington, Mass./Saint John's Prep) stopped a shot in each half for the Skyhawks to limit Saint Anselm to their lone goal.

Stonehill would have plenty of opportunities in the second half, however, taking 13 shots as well as five corner kicks. Montano, senior captain Timothy Canniff (Billerica, Mass./Billerica), and sophomore defender Craig Moreau (Gray, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) each recorded shots on goal in the second half for Stonehill.

Stonehill (0-1, 0-0 NE-10) is back in action tomorrow when they host Saint Michael's (0-1, 0-0 NE-10) in the Catholic Cup consolation match at noon. Saint Anselm (1-0, 0-0 NE-10) will face Assumption College in tomorrow's championship contest on Skyhawk Field at 2:30 p.m. Assumption edged Saint Michael's 1-0 in double overtime on freshman forward Ethan Morrow's (Huntington Beach, Calif./Hyde) first collegiate goal in the 103rd minute. Sophomore Dana King (Windham, Maine/Windham) made two saves for the shutout.

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