Decker drives Seahawks 5-4 win against Springfield

MIDDELTOWN, R.I. -- Salve Regina field hockey defeated fellow NEWMAC institution, Springfield College 5-4 in the first conference game of the season. Sophomore Julia Decker scored three of the teams five goals and made the winning shot with mere seconds on the clock in the final period. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Salve Regina 5, Springfield 4
Records: Salve Regina (4-0), Springfield (3-3)
All-Time Series: This is the first meetup of the Seahawks and the Pride in recent history. The Pride finished out the 2022 season 9-10 overall and 5-3 in conference play. 

NOTEWORTHY:

• Springfield scored first at 4:14 into the first period. Decker responded to Springfield's charge and put the Seahawks on the board with two goals, bringing the score to 2-1. Springfield's Camryn Morano scored with 40 seconds left to go in quarter one, tying the teams 2-2. 
• Both teams fought heartily although neither scored in the second period. 
• The Pride saw one goal in the third period, bringing the score to 3-2 in favor of Springfield.
• Salve Regina brought a fresh mindset to the last quarter and Shannon Kennedy led the charge with two goals, increasing the score to 4-3. Springfield scored on a penalty kick but with 13 seconds left on the clock Decker knew what she needed to do, scoring the final goal of the game and continuing the team's 4-0 undefeated streak. 

COACH THOUGHTS:

"It's good to see the work pay off," said head coach Jennifer Foster. "We knew entering the NEWMAC would be exciting for us and we feel good about how the game went. It was a game of opportunities and we capitalized at the end there and put in what we needed to."

ATHLETE THOUGHTS: 

"I went in with a few minutes left in the last period and I was losing a little bit of hope," said Decker. "The minute we got that final penalty corner I knew it was our time. We all represented, and we scored and we won. It all worked out."

ON THE HORIZON: 

On Tuesday Sept. 19 the Seahawks will host local rival Roger Williams University on the turf of Gaudet field at 6:30 p.m.