Posted: Apr 06, 2011

Roger Williams blankets Seahawks offense in second half en route to 22-8 win

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Junior Danica Delia (Norwalk, Conn.) scored eight goals and the Roger Williams University defense held Salve Regina to two second-half goals to score a 22-8 win over the Seahawks in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) women's lacrosse action Wednesday afternoon at Gaudet Field.
Sarah Livingston

Senior Claire Halliday (Trenton, N.J.) netted six goals for the Hawks (7-4, 5-1 TCCC), who ran their win streak against the Seahawks to six. Senior Kate Malanczak (Sayville, N.Y.) scored twice and dished out five assists for Roger Williams while freshmen Jessica Searl (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Danielle Neagle (Avon, Conn.) each tallied twice.

Junior Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) potted five goals to pace the Seahawks (4-7, 3-4 TCCC). Sophomore Megan Clancy (Chelmsford, Mass.) and freshmen Molly Shine (Southborough, Mass.) and Grace Kelly (Auburn, N.Y.) each scored once.

Both Livingston and Delia each polished off their hat tricks in the first half, with Delia's third of the afternoon giving RWU a 6-5 lead at 13:20. Shine's third of the season just over a minute later knotted the score at six, but the Hawks answered with five-consecutive goals to close the half leading 11-6. Delia and Halliday each scored twice during the run.

Livingston opened the second-half scoring with a free position goal at 28:43 to cut the Salve Regina deficit to four (11-7). However, Roger Williams blanketed the SRU offense for the next 20-plus minutes and scored nine goals of its own to build a 20-7 lead with 7:58 to play. Halliday led the charge with four goals while Delia netted a pair.

The Hawks outshot the Seahawks 44-26 on the afternoon. Salve Regina held a 14-13 edge in ground balls and forced 16 RWU turnovers, compared to eight for the Hawks. The Seahawks struggled on free position shots all afternoon, converting on just four of their 13 uncontested opportunities.

Sophomore Danielle Malconian (Belmont, Mass.) led the Seahawks with five ground balls. Halliday and sophomore Justine Sullivan (Norwell, Mass.) each collected three for Roger Williams. Sullivan made 11 saves to improve to 4-3 on the season while junior Natalie Balletta (Leominster, Mass.) suffered the loss for SRU. She made 13 saves and saw her record move to 4-7.

Salve Regina returns to action on Saturday when they travel to New Hampshire for a 1 p.m. contest with Colby-Sawyer College. The Hawks host Nichols Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.