NEWPORT, R.I. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) field hockey team was able to cut its deficit to one early in the fourth quarter, but two late goals from host Salve Regina University gave the home team a 4-1 victory in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference contest this evening at Gaudet Field in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons fall to 3-8 overall and 0-4 in NEWMAC play, while the Seahawks improve to 6-3 and 2-2.
The match was the first meeting between the schools as NEWMAC opponents since Salve Regina was accepted as one of the conference's 12 full-time members.
The Seahawks owned a 23-15 shot advantage, including 8-4 in the fourth quarter. Salve Regina also boasted a 13-10 margin in penalty corners. Three of the game's five goals were scored in the final period, including two by the Seahawks in the final 104 seconds of play.
Wheaton faced a 2-0 deficit heading into the fourth quarter, but cracked the scoring column 69 seconds into the final period to cut the margin in half at 2-1. Following a penalty corner junior forward Delia Knox (Cumberland Center, Maine) fired a shot that was denied, but first year forward Ally Slicer (Waterford, Maine) collected the loose ball in the right slot, where she buried the shot for her fifth marker of the season.
Salve Regina put the game away with two late goals in the quarter. The Seahawks also capitalized on a penalty corner when junior forward Hana Bevilacqua (West Barnstable, Mass.) fired a shot that was kicked away by the Lyons' goalie. Sophomore forward Georgia Costello (North Easton, Mass.) collected the ball and sent a short cross to senior forward Shannon Kennedy (Royersford, Pa.), who fired a shot from 12 yards out that found the back of the cage to give Salve Regina a 3-1 margin. The Seahawks tacked on their final marker when Costello converted a penalty stroke into the right side of the cage after time had expired to give the home team a 4-1 victory with her sixth goal of the season.
Kennedy put Salve Regina on the board when she maneuvered to the front of the goalmouth, where she flicked a backhanded shot into the left corner for her ninth goal of the year with 5:41 left in the opening quarter.
Neither team scored in the second period, despite four shots apiece for each squad.
The Seahawks doubled their lead with a marker 5:19 into the second half. First year midfielder Jordyn Pineau (South Dennis, Mass.) sent a long cross into the goalmouth, where sophomore forward Julia Decker (Newton, N.J.) picked up the ball and scored in front of the cage for her 11th tally of the year and a 2-0 Salve Regina lead.
Wheaton junior forward Lydia Gaudreau (Gorham, Maine) applied pressure to the Seahawks' defense throughout the match with six shots, including four on frame.
Senior goalie Emma Lapreziosa (Bowdoinham, Maine) stopped 11 shots for the Lyons, while junior goalie Bryn Protheroe (Glastonbury, Conn.) made 10 saves for Salve Regina.
Wheaton returns to action on Saturday, October 7 when it heads to Worcester, Mass. to take on NEWMAC rival Clark University at 12:00 p.m., while the Seahawks travel to Babson Park, Mass. to play No. 2 Babson College in league play on the same day and time.
