Braga nets two goals in victory

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College women's soccer team, ranked No. 25 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Preseason Poll, claimed its first victory of the season with a 3-0 win over Salve Regina University in non-conference action at Reynolds Field.

Senior tri-captain Kristina Braga (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) netted two goals – one in each half – and freshman forward/midfielder Kaitlin Montoya (Placentia, Calif./Orange Lutheran) deposited her second goal of the season to account for the offense.

Lyons' sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Thacker (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) stopped two shots to record her first-career shutout. Salve Regina freshman Carly Montgomery (Malverne, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) turned aside seven shots in the loss for the Seahawks.

Montoya put Wheaton on the scoreboard in the 31st minute finishing a nice pass from junior midfielder Gabriella Verde (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) for a 1-0 advantage. Verde picked up her first assist of the season on the tally.

Montoya helped orchestrate the Lyons' next marker 5:53 later feeding Braga with a crisp pass for her first goal of the season and a 2-0 lead headed into the break.

Both teams were held scoreless until the 86th minute when sophomore midfielder/forward Allie Hinrichs (Swampscott, Mass./Waring School) set up Braga for her second tally of the game. In her career, Braga has registered three 2-goal games including this afternoon's contest. Braga potted two markers during her freshman year against Mount Holyoke (10/2/2010) and another pair of goals versus Tufts on September 21, 2011.

Wheaton outshot the hosts 32-4 and won the corners matchup, 7-3. The Lyons notched their first shutout of the season after posting 14 a year ago, which ranks tied for ninth all-time in program history in a season. With the win, the Blue and White also improve to 6-2-0 all-time against Salve Regina.

Wheaton (1-2) hosts Williams College on Sunday, September 8 at noon in a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament second round contest. The Lyons earned a 1-0 victory at home over the Ephs to advance to the Sweet 16 round of the tournament. Salve Regina (0-4) travels to Rhode Island College on Tuesday, September 10 at 4 p.m.

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