Birrell sets goals mark with hat trick during 4-0 win on Senior Day

NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) notched her fourth hat trick of the year, breaking the Salve Regina record for goals in a season while leading the Seahawks to a 4-0 win over Nichols College during Senior Day at Reynolds Field on Wednesday. With the win, the Seahawks solidify the No. 7 seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship tournament, improving to 8-9-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the conference. The Bison's season comes to an end with a record of 3-12-2, falling to 0-9-0 during CCC play.

Prior to the match, the Seahawks recognized graduate student Caitlin Eastwood (Seymour, Conn.) and seniors Kaitlyn Birrell, Georgia Feroce (Shelton, Conn.), Ashley Jamieson (Warwick, R.I.), Kaitlin Niedmann (Harwinton, Conn.) and Christine Parrott (Alstead, N.H.) for all of their contributions to the program.

Fittingly, the seniors accounted for all four scores, as Eastwood added a goal of her own in addition to Birrell's hat trick. Feroce and sophomore Angelina Saporito (Bristol, Conn.) each dished-out an assist, while junior Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) made six saves in net to earn her fifth shutout of the season, improving to 8-9-1 overall.

Freshman goalkeeper Melissa Toomey (Saugus, Mass.) stood out for the Bison, making a match-high 12 saves to keep her team in the contest for most of the game.

The Seahawks wasted no time jumping on the board, as Feroce gathered a loose ball in the box off a corner kick and slipped a pass to Birrell who finished with her left foot to give the Seahawks a 1-0 advantage while tying her own program record for goals in a season with 19.

The Seahawks continued to apply pressure, outshooting the Bison 13-5 while also compiling a 6-0 edge in corners. However, Toomey managed to keep Salve Regina at bay with several nice saves, holding the score at 1-0 heading into halftime.

Salve Regina continued to cling to their one-goal lead into the 70th minute of play when Birrell gave the Seahawks some breathing room with a pair of unassisted tallies within five minutes of each other. In the process, the senior standout established a new program record for goals in a season with 21 total markers.

The Seahawks put the game away in the 81st minute when Saporito delivered a cross to Eastwood who found the back of the net to seal the 4-0 victory.

Salve Regina will travel to face the No. 2 seed (either Roger Williams or Endicott) in the quarterfinal round of the CCC Championship tournament this Saturday.