WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University women's soccer team and Saint Anselm battled to a 1-1 tie on Tuesday afternoon in a Northeast-10 match, that extended the Falcons' unbeaten start to the season to six matches. Sophomore Alyssa Valente (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan HS ) had the Bentley goal.

The Falcons seized a 1-0 lead over the visiting Hawks in the 24^th minute as Valente notched her 4^th goal of the season. Sophomore Brandi McDonald (East Bridgewater/East Bridgewater HS) helped set the goal up with a blistering strike from the top of the penalty area that struck the crossbar. Valente then beat her marker to the rebound and knocked it in from six yards out to give Bentley the lead.

The Falcons then threatened early in the 2^nd half. A shot from short range by senior Ana Tantum (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) was kick saved by Hawks keeper Elise Bouchard. Jamie Grinavic (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) raced on to the rebound and put a shot on Bouchard but had it denied.

Saint Anselm had a quality scoring chance in the 57^th minute off a corner kick and a header by midfielder Kendra Bonczar that was headed for the far post, but a Bentley defender was able to clear it off the line.

Bentley nearly added a second goal in the 68^th minute after a shot by Carly Kohler (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip HS) from close range was saved and the rebound came loose, but Bouchard corralled the loose ball.

Bentley keeper Deirdre Macrorie (Winchester/Winchester HS), helped preserve the lead in the 76^th minute with a nice save on a shot from 25 yards by Hawks forward Caly Farina that was headed for the upper left corner of the net.

However, after knocking on the door towards the end of regulation, Saint Anselm found the equalizer in the 88^th minute when junior Alexis Elowitch volleyed in a cross from the right wing by Farina.

Bentley had the best chance of overtime to find the winning goal. Early in the first OT, Valente had the ball in midfield and fed a through ball to Tantum. Tantum raced in front of the Hawks defense, down the right wing and into the box, fired a shot from six yards that banged off the post.

Neither team threatened much the rest of the way, and the match ended 1-1.

The Falcons' record on the season goes to 4-0-2 overall and 1-0-2 in NE-10 matches. They're back in action on Saturday at New Haven.