NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Southern Connecticut State needed an early spark, and Gísli Ágústsson delivered it. Ágústsson scored in the fifth minute, Diego Flores made it stand up with five saves, and Southern Connecticut State defeated Saint Anselm College 1-0 for its first win of the season. The Owls also remained undefeated in Northeast 10 Conference play at 1-0-2.
The victory marked the first career head coaching win for interim head coach Reuben Ayarna, who was named to the role Feb. 25 after serving three seasons as an assistant with the Owls.
Ágústsson's goal came at 4:54 of the first half. Jeremy Martin provided the assist on what proved to be the game-winner, Ágústsson's second goal of the season. Southern Connecticut State capitalized on its first real chance after an early offside and foul.
Southern Connecticut State (1-2-5, 1-0-2 NE10) outshot Saint Anselm 17-7 overall and 8-5 in shots on goal. The Owls put three shots on frame in the opening 14 minutes, forcing Saint Anselm goalkeeper David Hood into action early. Hood finished with seven saves.
Flores earned his eighth career shutout and his first of the 2026 season. The sophomore played the full 90 minutes and was tested throughout, particularly in the first half when Saint Anselm generated five shots.
Flores made back-to-back saves in the 16th and 23rd minutes, both on attempts by Chance Prouty, who led Saint Anselm with four shots and three on goal. He stopped Prouty again in the 26th minute.
The second half brought more pressure from Saint Anselm, which earned four corner kicks, but Flores remained composed. He denied Prouty for a fourth time at 56:31 and stopped Zachary Mantegari from close range in the 75th minute to preserve the lead.
Jimmy Choi led the Owls with four shots and three on goal off the bench in 75 minutes, while Pau Cano, Kasper Murzinski and Andrew Buchanan each added two shots. Jayson Dumont and Ferran Briones Llopis also tested Hood late.
The back line of Yussif Mohammed, Roger Fontdegloria, Jah Nyanforh and Cameron Conley played all 90 minutes in front of Flores, limiting Saint Anselm to two shots after halftime. Conley was shown a yellow card in the 85th minute, the only caution of the match.
Saint Anselm finished with nine corner kicks to Southern Connecticut State's one, but could not convert its set-piece opportunities. The Hawks were flagged offside five times.
For Flores, the shutout continues a decorated start to his career. As a freshman in 2025, Flores earned All-NE10 Third Team and All-Rookie Team honors while tying for the conference lead with seven shutouts. Five of those came during a streak from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2025.
Southern is back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 29 when it hosts St. Thomas Aquinas at 7 p.m. at Jess Dow Field.
