HOOKSETT, N.H. - The regionally-ranked Saint Michael's College women's soccer team forged a scoreless draw with No. 14 Southern New Hampshire University during Northeast-10 Conference play in Ouellette Stadium on Wednesday evening. The Purple Knights were seventh in this week's United Soccer Coaches East Region poll, while the Penmen stood second regionally in addition to their national ranking.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (7-1-2, 2-1-2 NE10), Southern New Hampshire (6-0-3, 2-0-2 NE10)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Junior Juliana Anastopoulos (Chestnut Hill, Mass./Brookline), 2 saves in 9:04
• Senior Jesse Ferdinand (Maraval, Trinidad and Tobago/High Mowing School), 9 saves in 80:56 of relief (college debut)

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Junior Claudia Keith, 1 save

GAME FACTS

• The Purple Knights have allowed only one goal in their last three games, while the Penmen registered their third straight shutout. The teams remained tied for third in the NE10 standings with eight points.
• Saint Michael's snapped Southern New Hampshire's six-game home winning streak.
• The teams played their fourth consecutive contest decided by a goal or less. A total of two goals have been scored in those four games.
• The Purple and Gold blanked a nationally-ranked team for the second time in three seasons, also playing No. 2 The College of Saint Rose to a scoreless draw on Sept. 14, 2022. It was its first road shutout of a ranked foe since a 1-0 victory at No. 9 Franklin Pierce University on Sept. 23, 2008.

THE ACTION

• The Purple Knights had a fifth-minute opportunity thanks to forcing a giveaway in the final third, as first-year Scarlett Brookes (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) sent a shot under pressure into Keith's hands.
• In the ninth minute, junior Carly Schofield got behind the Saint Michael's back line for a breakaway, but Anastopoulos stepped up to slide tackle the ball away.
• The hosts took 13 of the 16 shots in the second half, when Ferdinand made seven stops.
• Senior Claire Williams (Saint Leonard, Md./Calvert) ran onto a shot in the 79th minute from 40 yards out that sent Keith diving toward the right post to deny the chance.
• The final try for either team came as a one-touch late in the 89th minute off the foot of junior Georgia Greene, but Ferdinand leaped to corral the shot.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Saturday vs. the University of New Haven, 2 p.m.