NORTON, Mass. -- The Wheaton College field hockey team was defeated by Salve Regina University in the season opener, 4-1 this evening on Gaudet Field in Newport, R.I. The Lyons slip to 0-1 on the season, while Seahawks improve to 1-0.

Wheaton trailed 2-0 through two quarters of play, but cut the deficit in half with the first collegiate goal by sophomore midfielder, Macey Poitras-Cote (Northborough, Mass.). The score came midway through the third quarter to pull the Lyons to within a goal.

First year forward Ashley Harvey (Newmarket, N.H) got the offense started for Salve Regina with a goal at the 11:48 mark to tally her first collegiate goal. In less than three minutes into the first quarter, sophomore Hana Bevilacqua (West Barnstable, Mass.) scored off of a penalty corner to give Salve Regina a 2-0 lead ending the first quarter. 

The Lyons defense held strong, holding the Seahawks scoreless until the 49:49 mark, a span of 35 plus minutes before first-year Georgia Costello (North Easton, Mass.) scored her first collegiate tally for the Seahawks off of a penalty corner. Junior forward Shannon Kennedy (Royersford, Pa.) notched her third goal of her career with less than eight minutes left to play in the fourth period. Salve Regina finished with a 21-5 shot advantage .

Junior goalie Emma Lapreziosa (Bowdoinham, Maine) made 10 saves between the pipes for the Lyons, while senior Casey Febus (Souderton, Pa.) made four saves to earn the victory for Salve Regina.  

Wheaton returns to action Sunday, September 4 when it travels to Bangor, Maine to take on Husson University for a 12:00 p.m. non-conference game, while the Seahawks head to Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, September 3rd for a 3:00 p.m. start.