Seniors shine as Seahawks defeat Wentworth

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – On a night when the Salve Regina women's lacrosse team honored its three graduating seniors, senior Jennifer Jones (Basking Ridge, N.J.) stole the show with a program record 11 points as she led the Seahawks to a 20-13 victory over Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Wentworth Institute of Technology, Wednesday afternoon.

Wentworth's sophomore Heather Saroch (Arnold, Md.) and freshman Pam Mudge (Pembroke, N.H.) went back-to-back with two quick goals to give the Leopards their last lead of the game at 3-1 with just over 25 minutes to play in the first half. Junior Grace Kelly (Auburn, N.Y.) kicked off a five-goal run that covered just over six minutes of action that feature two tallies from Kelly to give Salve Regina a 6-3 lead.

After a goal from senior Meg Ferro (Syracuse, N.Y.) momentarily halted the Seahawks scoring run, Jones buried her second and third goals of the game to push the Seahawk lead to 8-4. Junior Karley Malenczak (Sayville, N.Y.) and Jones scored on back-to-back possessions for the Seahawks after a goal from sophomore Alexandra Banks (Ellington, Conn.) to give Salve Regina a 10-5 lead.

Wentworth went on its most prolific scoring run of the game starting with 13:16 to play with a four-goal spree to pull within one at 10-9. Highlighting the run was a pair of unassisted goals from sophomore Jessica Houghton (Billerica, Mass.). Four different Seahawks found the back of the net over the last 6:16 of the opening half, however, to answer the Leopards run with four of their own to give Salve Regina a 13-9 lead going into half time.

Jones quickly extended the Salve Regina lead with a pair of goals to open the second half before Wentworth and Salve Regina traded the next five goals to give the Seahawks a 18-12 lead with 15 minutes left to play. Jones sent home her final two goals of the contest to give Salve Regina its largest lead of the game, 20-12, before Houghton scored with just 15 seconds to play to bring the score to its final, 20-13.

Jones finished the day with a school-record 11 points, adding three assists to her school single-game record eight goals. Kelly and sophomore Gina Tortorici (Deer Park, N.Y.) picked up a team-high four ground balls while senior Danielle Malconian (Belmont, Mass.) controlled a game-high six draw controls. Junior Josephine O'Reilly (Middletown, R.I.) stopped seven shots in the win for Salve Regina.

The Seahawks wrap up their season with a 3-11 record and a 1-7 slate in the CCC.