Press Release

SAINT ANSELM HALTS MEN'S LAX WIN STREAK AT SEVEN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
April 22, 2002                                                                        Contact: Angela Aja 

Manchester, N.H. (April 22, 2002)- Justin Shairs' (Beverly, Mass./ Beverly) goal with 1:32 remaining in regulation lifted the Saint Anselm College Hawks past Saint Michael's, 9-8 in a Northeast-10 Conference game at Grappone Stadium this afternoon.

After Saint Michael's roared back from a 7-3 halftime deficit to tie the game at eight apiece, Shairs took a pass from Michael Smith (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) and fired a rocket past Purple Knight goalie Jim Crozier (Avon, Conn./ Avon old Farms).

A final point-blank shot attempt by Tim Birmingham (Brownsville, Vt./Kimball Union) was turned away by Saint Anselm keeper Troy Peters (Somersworth, N.H./ Berwick Acad.) in the final seconds as the Hawks ended Saint Michael's six-game win streak.

Saint Anselm improves its record to 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the Northeast-10 while Saint Michael's falls to 8-3 overall, 5-2 in the conference with the loss.

The game was a story of two halves with the Hawks dominating the first session to take a 7-3 lead into intermission. Saint Michael's made acomplete turnaround in the second session and kept the home team on its heels throughout much of the late action.

The Knights had trimmed the Hawks' lead to 7-6 late in the third stanza before the hosts scored their lone goal of the period to maintain a two-goal advantage.

Saint Michael's then received goals from Nathan Siegler (Brownsville, Vt./Kimball Union) and Kevin Duffy (Yonkers, N.Y./ Fordham Prep.) in the fourth to tie things up before Shairs struck.

Shairs was sensational on the afternoon, scoring five goals and adding an assist while Peters made nine saves in net. Peters also added a rare goalkeeper assist in the first half.

For Saint Michael's, Birmingham scored a hat trick and Crozier made 11 saves in a losing effort.

The Purple Knights return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Plymouth State.

Saint Anselm 9 - Saint Michael's 8 -at Manchester, N.H.

1 2 3 4 OT Final

Saint Michael's (8-3, 5-2 NE-10) 2 1 3 2 - 8
Saint Anselm (8-4, 5-3 NE-10) 3 4 1 1 - 9

Saint Michael's: Tim Birmingham 3-0, Kevin Duffy 2-0, Bryan Barletto 1-2,
Nathan Siegler 2-0, Greg Cosier 0-1

Saves: Jim Crozier (60 Min.) 11 saves

Saint Anselm: Justin Shairs 5-1, Mike Smith 1-1, Tim Armstrong 1-1, Cliff Ambrose 1-1, Tim Pelletier 1-0, Kyle Carson 0-1, Troy Peters 0-1

Saves: Troy Peters (60 Min) 9 saves

Shots: Saint Anselm 31, Saint Michael's 25
Ground Balls: Saint Anselm 19, Saint Michael's 22
Extra Man: Saint Anselm 2-for-6, Saint Michael's 0-for-4
Face Off Wins: Saint Anselm 15, Saint Michael's 5

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For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002