Women's Soccer has a strong start to NEC play

By Kaya DeAngelis

Women’s soccer opened Northeast Conference (NEC) play in electric fashion. They

won their first game last week at the University of New Haven and their second on Sunday

against Saint Francis University, making their conference record 2-0.

The Skyhawks defeated the New Haven Chargers 3-1. Junior forward Kayla Cassidy

recorded her first career brace, tying the NEC lead for most goals on the season (as of

9/18/25).

After a scoreless first half, junior forward Grace Fitzgerald capitalized in the second

half’s opening minutes off a cross from freshman midfielder Dani Lomuscio. Her first

career goal gave Stonehill the lead.

The final two goals came from Cassidy in the middle of the second half, giving

Stonehill a comfortable lead to finish the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Allie Sougaris held

the Chargers to just one goal on eight shots faced.

Senior captain Hannah Anselmo registered a program record in the team’s NCAA

Division I era with 10 shot attempts. It’s the most in a single game for the program since

2010.

After their first win away, the Skyhawks returned home for family weekend and

alumni day. It was Anselmo who led the Skyhawks to a 5-1 victory over Saint Francis on

Sunday, scoring the first hat-trick in Division I program history.

Saint Francis’ defense was kept busy, with Stonehill recording a total of 20 shots - 12

on goal.

The first goal came from Anselmo. She took the ball down off a cross from junior

Emma Cranston and danced around the defenders before striking the ball into the back of

the net.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Skyhawks scored again off a cross across from

junior Annie Renz. It was sophomore Erin Foley who got her head on the ball for her first

goal of the season.

After allowing Saint Francis to score once, Anselmo answered with two goals in only

nine seconds of play. The first came from a free kick, and the second off a loose ball sent

into the box by Cassidy.

In the closing minutes, sophomore Anya Zub scored the first goal of her career to

solidify a 5-1 win.

Sougaris continued to be a wall between the goalposts, making three saves and

allowing one goal.

As a result of two NEC opening wins, Anselmo and Sougaris were named as NEC

Co-Player and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively.

They were also named, along with teammate Kayla Cassidy, as NEC Prime

Performers this week. Anselmo leads the NEC in goals, shot attempts, and points per

game. She ranks among the nation’s top 30 goal scorers.

Two days after her historic hat-trick, Anselmo was recognized on a national level,

being one of eleven players named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Women’s Team of the Week.

She was the only NEC representative on this week's Top Drawer Soccer Women’s

Team, joined by other players from SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 schools.

With two dominant conference victories under their belt, the Skyhawks are setting a

new standard of play in the NEC.