Posted: Aug 12, 2014

Senior-laden Seahawks begin season in Maine

Alex Wasilewski (left in foreground) and Jacob Weinshank (right in background) represent two of 11 seniors on the 2014 squad.

NEWPORT, R.I. - The 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's soccer champions return a veteran cast (11 seniors) for Salve Regina's run at a 2014 crown.

"The 2014 campaign presents us with a multitude of challenges as we will be playing no fewer than five schools that made the NCAA Tournament last year," said Seahawk head coach Craig O'Rourke II. "In 2013, our conference demonstrated that it was among the elite and most competitive in the country as we sent three schools to the NCAAs and with the additions of UMass Boston, from the Little East, and Wesleyan University, from the always formidable NESCAC, our 2014 match schedule is among the most grueling in all of New England. Luckily, we return both a high enough and sufficiently broad spectrum of talent that will allow us to cope with such a demanding schedule."

Salve Regina, 9-7-3 in 2013 after posting nine shutouts including its final four games, opens 2014 on neutral ground against U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Friday, August 29, at Gorham, Maine. The Seahawks are 3-1 all-time against the Bears; Salve Regina plays the host Southern Maine the following day at 3:30 p.m.

The Seahawks last played the Huskies three years ago, winning 7-1 in Gorham (September 3, 2011). Zachary Kraft (Tenafly, N.J.) scored his first two collegiate goals in the victory while classmate Jake Weinshank (Chapel Hill, N.C.) added his first score in a Salve Regina uniform.

The first home opponent in 2014 for the Seahawks will be the Wildcats when Johnson & Wales University visits Newport to face Salve Regina on Reynolds Field on Saturday, September 6 (3 p.m.). The Seahawks own an 8-1 all-time mark against the Wildcats and have outscored their first visitors 23-5 in nine meetings.

The first CCC opponent of 2014 will be Nichols College with the Bison coming to Newport on Saturday, September 13. The Seahawks went 5-3-1 in conference play last season and hosted first-round playoff action. While Salve Regina went undefeated in two meetings with Roger Williams on Reynolds Field in 2013, the Hawks advanced in the playoff meeting after two OT periods and a 3-0 score in the penalty kick shootout.

Salve Regina closes its regular season schedule with a home match versus Western New England University (Wednesday, October 29 - 3 p.m.). The Seahawks have eight scoreless draws since 2008 including three times with the Golden Bears.

The Seahawks open pre-season camp on Friday, August 15.