Seahawks thump Rams, 5-2; climb over .500 mark

NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior Sean McAllister (North Arlington, N.J.) scored three goals to lead the Salve Regina University men's soccer team to a 5-2 win over Suffolk University in non-conference action Thursday afternoon at Reynolds Field.

Junior Chris Knoth (East Islip, N.Y.) and sophomore Pat Vierengel (Armonk, N.Y.) also scored for the Seahawks (3-2), who ran their win streak to three and remained unbeaten all-time against Suffolk (7-0-1). Junior Danny Lloyd (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) and sophomore Ben Rollins (Lee, N.H.) scored for the Rams, who slipped to 2-3.

McAllister opened the scoring with his third of the season at 5:21 off a feed from senior tri-captain Ken Johnson (Colonia, N.J.). Johnson broke in on the right side and slid a pass to McAllister, who poked the ball into an empty net. The Rams tied the game at one when Rollins fired a shot off the far left post and in at 13:21.

McAllister tallied his second of the afternoon when junior Ian Jentgen (Columbus, Ohio) launched a free kick into the box that was redirected by McAllister and into the net at 16:07. The Seahawks stretched the lead to 3-1 on Vierengel's first marker of 2010. Sophomore Bobby Ernst (Needham, Mass.) fed Vierengel, who walked in alone and scored at 28:43.

Just 31 seconds into the second half, McAllister played a ball into the box that was knocked home by Knoth for his second of the season. Lloyd's second goal of the season at 50:47 cut the deficit in half at 4-2, but McAllister's third of the afternoon at 70:25 sealed his hat trick and capped the scoring.

"I thought this was an interesting match for us, particularly because we were facing an opponent who we did not play last year," said Salve Regina head coach Craig O'Rourke II. "We started out well, scoring that first goal about six minutes in. Then, I thought we relaxed a little and allowed them to get back into the match. Sean McAllister scored the first hat trick for a Salve Regina player during my tenure as head coach. The goal he assisted onto Knoth in the opening 30 seconds of the second half was some of the finest soccer that I have seen play yet on our field."

Freshman Adam Boyette (Galloway, N.J.) made one save to earn his first collegiate victory. Senior Jack DeJesus (Boston, Mass.) turned aside 10 shots for the Rams, who were outshot 27-7 on the afternoon.

The Seahawks return to action on Saturday when they host Wentworth at 2 p.m. at Gaudet Field. The Rams host Johnson & Wales Saturday at 7:30 p.m.