Gordon opens CCC slate with win at Salve Regina

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Gordon College field hockey ended Salve Regina University's unblemished 5-0 start with a 3-1 victory at Gaudet Field on Saturday night in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener for both schools. Gordon improved to 3-4 overall while the Seahawks suffered their first loss of 2014.

The Scots opened the scoring early as senior forward Katherine Bailey (Baltimore, Md.) struck her first goal of 2014 at the 3:15 mark. Gordon's leading scorer senior forward Brittany Hawkins (Hampstead, N.H.) made it a 2-0 advantage in the first half, just as the rain started to fall.

Both teams were even on shots, five apiece, at the break.

Salve Regina, as it did in a 3-1 win over Salem State on Thursday night, came out firing in the second half. The Seahawks outshot the visitors, 7-2, in the final 35 minutes, but Gordon goalie Shannon Hicks (Scarborough, Maine) stopped all but one.

Seahawk junior Julia Grover (Cotuit, Mass.) cut the deficit in half with her fourth goal of the season at 64:44, assisted by Abigail Tepper (Foxboro, Mass.). The Scots answered immediately when senior Grace Fabry (Escondido, Calif.) put the ball past Salve Regina goalie Murphy McCann (Westerly, R.I.) for a 3-1 edge at 65:15.

The Scots now own a 21-4 record in the all-time series, and have won the last eight straight meetings. Gordon swept the season series in 2013; the teams meet again in October at Wenham, Mass.

Gordon, which finished second in the 2013 regular season before knocking off University of New England in the CCC Championship, hosts the Nor'easters on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Salve Regina travels to Western New England University on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest; the Seahawks swept the Golden Bears with 15 goals scored in two games last year.