BOX SCORE

When and Where: August 31, 2018 – Bridgeport, Conn. (Knights Field)
Score: Mercy College 1, Southern New Hampshire University 0
Records: Mercy 1-0-0, SNHU 0-1-0

Freshman Hannah Rose (Waterloo, Ontario) made three saves, but a 67^th-minute goal proved to be the difference, as the 24^th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University women's soccer team was nipped, 1-0, by third-ranked Mercy College on Friday in the season opener at the University of Bridgeport's Knights Field.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• Rose, who was playing in her first collegiate match, was tested early on, as she was forced to make a stop in the eighth minute to keep it scoreless. Her other two saves came in the 47^th minute and then just seconds before time expired on the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The teams played a scoreless first half, putting just two combined shots on net, with senior Danielle Humphreys (Hebron, Conn.) getting her bid thwarted in the 37^th minute for the Penmen.
• With the match still scoreless at 66:13, Anicia Reyes broke the deadlock when she collected a thru-ball in the middle of the box from Corinna Ferrante and found the back of the net.
• Junior Shae Roys (No. Billerica, Mass.) generated both second-half chances for the Penmen, but was turned aside in the 78^th and 87^th minutes.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Mercy goalkeeper Melissa Torres stopped three shots.
• The Mavericks outshot the Penmen, 7-5, including 3-1 in the opening half.
• Mercy also held a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.

NOTES

• The teams were meeting for the first time since Nov. 12 of last season, when Mercy ended Southern New Hampshire's season with a 3-1 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
• SNHU opens the season with a loss for the first time since 2016 and just the second time since 2009.
• The Penmen lose for just the third time in 22 matches (14-3-5). 

UP NEXT 

• The Penmen are back in action Sunday, Sept. 2 (12 p.m.) when they take on 16^th-ranked Long Island University-LIU Post back at Knights Field.
• SNHU opens its home slate Saturday, Sept. 8 (7 p.m.) when it plays host to Le Moyne College at Penmen Stadium.

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