Owls rally for 2-1 win over Seahawks in Newport

SEAHAWK WOMEN'S SOCCER RESULTS

Keene St. 2, Salve Regina 1
Newport, Rhode Island - Reynolds Field
Thursday, September 1, 2016

Summary
Keene State University scored a goal in each half to claim a 2-1 women's soccer victory over host Salve Regina University on Reynolds Field at Newport, R.I. The meeting was the first for Salve Regina head coach Jane Walsh against her alma mater and former head coach Denise Lyons. The Seahawks scored first in the 25th minute as Ella Rath (Pawcatuck, Conn.) struck with her left foot and put the ball in the upper top right corner. The visitors knotted the score before halftime when freshman Kirsten Youngstrom (West Hartford, Conn.) put in a rebound after Carly Pala (Milford, Conn.) had stopped Julia Pearson's (Harwinton, Conn.) shot. Pearson scored the game-winner late in the second half.

Series and Streaks
The Owls have won both meetings all-time with identical 2-1 scores. Previous meeting also came in a season opener (August 30, 2014).

Three Stars of the Match
1 – Keene State junior Julia Pearson (Harwinton, Conn) - assisted on the game-tying goal in the first half and then scored the game-winner deep in the second half.
2 – Salve Regina freshman Ella Rath (Pawcatuck, Conn.) - scored her first collegiate goal which gave the Seahawks a 1-0 lead at the 25th minute.
3 – Salve Regina senior Christine Pala (Milford, Conn.) - cleared the ball effectively in front of her younger sister.

Quick Hits

• Salve Regina has met Keene State twice in the last three years, both times as a season opener (2014, 2016).
• Seahawks feature five seniors and all saw first half action today - starters (and captains) Erica Manchester (Wakefiled, R.I.), Raine Oesterle (Monroe, Conn.), and Christine Pala while reserves Kerianne Folan (Dorchester, Mass.) and Lindsey Sasso (Watertown, Conn.) helped keep a fresh offensive attack on the field for Salve Regina.
• Salve Regina is now 7-24 all-time in season openers; the Seahawks last an opener in 2010 when they bested WPI, 2-0, on Gaudet Field in Middletown, R.I., on September 1 of that year.
• Keene State produced a 45-23-6 overall record during Walsh's three seasons (2010-2012).

Quotes
"I am very proud of my team's performance today. We took on a well-trained, dynamic team and gave a stellar performance. We had a choice to rise to the challenge or shy away, and we chose to rise. Keene took advantage of two mistakes and made us pay, but now we have the opportunity to make adjustments. This is a great stepping-off point for our season. I thoroughly enjoyed playing my alma mater. Irish (Denise Lyons) is a fantastic coach whom I have learned so much from. Things really came full circle yesterday. I'm proud to have come from such a well-respected program, but more importantly I'm proud of my team for stepping up. We are ready for this season." – head coach Jane Walsh

Next up
Keene State (1-0-0) – Saturday, Sep. 3 at Endicott, 1 p.m.
Salve Regina (0-1-0) – Saturday, Sep. 3 at Worcester State, 12 p.m.