Seahawks open season with 2-1 win over WPI

Worcester, Mass. - Freshman Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) made her collegiate debut a memorable one as she netted a pair of goals to lift visiting Salve Regina to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over WPI in non-conference women's soccer action on Tuesday. The match-up was the season opener for both squads.

Birrell got the Seahawks on the board in the 10th minute when she buried a feed from senior Jennifer Duval (Dudley, Mass.). She helped extend the advantage to 2-0 when she knocked home sophomore Liz Galla's (Beacon Falls, Conn.) cross in the 38th minute.

The Engineers cut the deficit in half in the 80th minute when Kristen Garza (Kingston, Mass.) picked up her own rebound and tucked a shot into the back of the net. The goal was the junior's 26th of her career. WPI had a pair of corner kicks in the final 10 minutes but were unable to muster the tying tally.

Salve Regina senior goalkeeper Katie Vaudrain (Pawtucket, R.I.) fended off seven shots en route to picking the victory. WPI's Liz Tuite (Hopkinton, Mass.) collected five saves in 79:36 of work while Rebecca Newman (Howell, N.J.) was not called upon to make a save over the final 10:24 of the game.

On the night, the Engineers enjoyed a 15-9 advantage in shots, including a 7-2 edge in the second half and took 11 of the game's 15 corner kicks.

Both teams return to action on Thursday. WPI hosts Wentworth at 7 p.m. while Salve Regina ventures to Bridgewater State for a 3:30 p.m. contest.

Courtesy of WPI sports information