Hawks hand Seahawks first home loss of 2015

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team drops its first home game of the season, 15-1 versus Roger Williams University on Tuesday evening.

The Hawks controlled the game from the outset, scoring four goals in the first three minutes en route to a 10-0 lead at halftime.

The Seahawks were out matched by the Hawks length and speed leading to Roger Williams owning time of possession. Salve Regina struggled to win on draw control against the taller Roger Williams players, and then when balls did make it to the ground, often the Hawks were a step faster to it.

Without the ability to win on the draw and being beat to loose balls the Seahawks were not able to generate any offense, being outshot 30-3 in the first half.

The Seahawks tightened things down in the second half as they were more aggressive off the draw and fighting for the 50/50 balls but still could not generate offense.

When the Seahawks did try to set up in the zone the Roger Williams defenders did a good job of disrupting players trying to carry the ball to the middle and knocking it loose for turnovers, or simply anticipating the play and jumping in the passing lanes for steals.

Gina Tortorici (Deer park, N.Y.) scored the lone goal for Salve Regina with 20:49 to play in the second half off a feed from Kaitlin Gillespie (Haddam, Conn.).

The Hawks got goals from seven different players, five with multi-goal efforts. McKenna Everding (Fayetteville, N.Y.) scored four times while Mackenzie Logan (Vernon, N.J.) scored three times and chipped in an assist as well. Both are listed as 5-10 and were the tallest players on the field. Something they used to their advantage on two acrobatic goals. With the ball being held behind the net, the Hawks would lob it up high into the slot and either Everding or Logan would snag it at its highest point and then whip it quickly on net.

Overall the Hawks outshot Salve Regina 41-10 and went 5-7 in free position shots. The Seahawks meanwhile were 0-6 on free position shots.

Katie Jones (Derry, N.H.) stopped 21 of the 36 shots she faced in the loss while Kimberly Bolk (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) stopped three shots to pick up her sixth victory of the season between the pipes.

The Seahawks now fall to 3-6 on the season, 1-3 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, while Roger Williams improves to 6-3 overall and 4-0 in CCC action.

The Seahawks return to action on April 8 when they travel to play Western New England at 4 p.m. The Hawks next play on April 4 when they host MIT at 12 p.m.