Seahawks hold off late charge by Bears, 9-7

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team scored on each of its first seven shots, jumping out to a 7-1 advantage before holding on for a 9-7 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University at Gaudet Field on Tuesday evening. With the win, the Seahawks are off to the best start in program history, improving to 3-0 overall, while the loss drops the Bears to 0-3.

Senior Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) led the Seahawks' offensive attack with a team-high three points, including two goals and an assist, while both junior Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) and sophomore Grace Kelly (Auburn, N.Y.) each scored a pair of goals in the win. Freshman Gina Tortorici (Deer Park, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal for Salve Regina, recording two points, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers, while sophomore Kristie Cox (Nashua, N.H.) and junior Jennifer Jones (Basking Ridge, N.J.) each added one goal apiece. Sophomore goalie Josie O'Reilly (Middletown, R.I.) was terrific while earning the win in net for the Seahawks, stopping 10-of-17 shots while making several key saves down the stretch to hold off a late charge by the Bears.

Bridgewater State was paced by sophomore Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) who led all players with three goals, while junior Sammi Salverio (Hanson, Mass.) and freshman Riley Cachelin (Westwood, Mass.) both scored two goals in the loss.

The Seahawks jumped out to a commanding 7-1 advantage in the opening 8:41 of play by scoring on each of their first seven shots of the contest. Livingston led the charge with two goals and an assist during the run, while Burke added a pair of scores.

After their initial offensive outburst, the Seahawks were held scoreless for the final 21 minutes of the opening half, as neither team was able to find the back of the net for the next 19 minutes of play.

The Bears finally broke up the scoreless streak with a pair of goals by Chachelin within 32 seconds of each other to cut the Salve Regina lead down to 7-3 before the two teams went into the break.

Bridgewater State continued its momentum into the second half, receiving goals from both Melanie Appleman and Salverio to climb back within two at 7-5 with just under 23 minutes remaining in the half.

After being held scoreless for 33:55, the Seahawks finally broke through with what turned out to be the game-winning goal on an unassisted tally by Tortorici, putting Salve Regina on top by a score of 8-5.

After Salverio answered with an unassisted marker of her own for BSU, Grace Kelly scored on a free position shot to reclaim the three-goal lead for the Seahawks, 9-6.

Appleman found the back of the net on a free position opportunity to claw the Bears back within two with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

O'Reilly then sealed the 9-7 victory for the Seahawks by making a pair of impressive saves down the stretch, including one on a free position shot, while also intercepting a pass to thwart any comeback opportunity for the Bears.

The Bears will host MIT in their home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m., while the Seahawks will welcome Endicott College for their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener on Saturday (12 p.m.) at Gaudet Field.