Second-half surge sends Salve Regina to victory over Colby-Sawyer

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University sophomore forward Liz Galla [Beacon Falls, Conn.] scored on a two-on-one breakaway with an assist from freshman Kaitlyn Birrell [Hope, R.I.] to cap a three-goal rally in a 3-2 women's soccer win over visiting Colby-Sawyer College.

The Chargers had built a 2-0 edge by halftime. Freshman forward Ashley Reis [Peterborough, N.H.] had the game's first goal 15 minutes into the contest, her team-leading fourth goal of the season. Four minutes before halftime, the Colby-Sawyer advantage grew to 2-0 when senior midfielder Laura Sansoucie [Haverhill, Mass.] found the net for her second goal of the year.

Despite outshooting the visitors by a 10-to-5 margin in the first half, Salve Regina had nothing to show for it and trailed by two goals.

"It's something we always tell the kids, 'You can score in twenty seconds,'" said Seahawk third-year head coach Kerri Scroope.

That's exactly what happened at the outset of the second half as Salve Regina sophomore Jordan Sileo [Bristol, Conn.] closed from the back door on a cross from Birrell and the Seahawks were finally on the scoreboard.

"We had a couple of breakaways earlier and couldn't finish, but the kids didn't get frustrated; they kept working hard."

Senior forward Jennifer Duval [Dudley, Mass.] tied the game with her seventh goal of the season in the 76th minute. With the Seahawk defense limiting the Chargers to just three second-half shots, Birrel-Duval-Galla kept the pressure on Colby-Sawyer sophomore keeper Allie Piper [Barre, Vt.].

Galla's game-winner, her 11th goal of the season and team-leading seventh game-winning goal, came at the 84th minute. Piper finished with a dozen saves while Seahawk senior Katie Vaudrain [Pawtucket, R.I.] stopped five Charger shots.

With the win, Salve Regina (9-6; 6-4 TCCC) strengthens its bid for its first The Commonwealth Coast Conference playoff spot in three years. Colby-Sawyer (7-5-3; 4-4-2 TCCC) has lost two straight but hangs in there for a playoff spot. Both teams have three league games remaining including two apiece on their respective home fields.