Second half outburst powers Gulls past Seahawks on Senior Day

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina University field hockey team falls 7-1 to Endicott College on Senior Day.

Before the game Salve Regina honored six seniors, Brianna Cain (Saunderstown, R.I.), Erin Demers (Concord, N.H.), Erin Massey (Mendon, Mass.), Murphy McCann (Westerly, R.I.), Alexandria Rizzo (Hopedale, Mass.), and Jessica Williams (Franklin, Mass.) with a pregame ceremony. Their families joined the players on the field while teammates presented small gifts and flowers, and junior Abigail Tepper (Foxboro, Mass.) read aloud accolades and career achievements for each player. After a quick photo the seniors rejoined their teammates and the game was ready to begin.

Endicott jumped on top early with a goal from Mackenzie Hurst (Gilford, N.H.) at 5:05 but the Seahawks responded quickly as Rizzo scored to even the game at 10:48.

The two teams then played a back and forth game dominated by great defense as neither team could get quality looks at the net. 

The game remained tied at halftime and in the second half before an offensive outburst from the Gulls broke the game open. Endicott scored six unanswered goals and the Seahawks were never able to recover.

Endicott scored two quick goals on shots from Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) assisted by Ashleigh Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Jess Linden (Stratford, Conn.) unassisted in less than three minutes for a 3-1 lead.

The momentum of the game had clearly shifted but Salve Regina still had plenty of time to mount a comeback with 19 minutes still to play. However seven minutes later the Gulls broke through again, this time with three goals in the span 56 seconds. Allen scored at 58:45, and then Brittany Bushey (Pittsford, Vt.) scored at 59:06 assisted by Amanda Glynn (Hampton, N.H.) and at 59:41 unassisted. 

The Gulls would tack on another goal from Alyssa Clark (Gorham, Maine) at 66:36 on another assist from Allen.

Salve Regina goalkeeper Murphy McCann faced 19 shots on goal and was able to turn away 12 on them while Endicott's Cheka Ventura (Lawrence Mass.) only faced four shots on goal, turning away three.

After shot totals being close, 10-6 in favor of Endicott at the half, the Gulls outshot the Seahawks 22-3 in the second half and 32-9 overall on the day. Most of those shots coming during the 6-0 run.

The Seahawks now fall to 11-6 overall and 4-6 in the conference. Currently the Seahawks would be the number four seed in CCC playoffs, with two games remaining on the schedule.

The Gulls improve to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in the conference. They currently hold the second seed in the standings.

Salve Regina next plays on Wednesday October 29 at 7 p.m. against Roger Williams for the final home game of the season.

Endicott will host Nichols on October 29 at 4 p.m.