Seniors lead Seahawks past Roger Williams, 3-1

NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Jen Duval (Dudley, Mass.) scored two goals and senior goalkeeper Katie Vaudrain (Pawtucket, R.I.) made 12 saves as the Salve Regina University women's soccer team defeated in-state rival Roger Williams University 3-1 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action Wednesday afternoon at Reynolds Field.

The win snaps a six-game losing streak to the Hawks and lifts the Seahawks to 6-2 on the season (3-0 TCCC). Sophomore Lauren Pendleton (Southwick, Mass.) scored her third goal of the season for Roger Williams (4-3-1, 2-1-0 TCCC), which saw its three-game unbeaten streak snapped.

With the score tied at one early in the second half, SRU freshman and TCCC leading-scorer Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) slid a pass through the Hawks defense to sophomore Liz Galla (Beacon Falls, Conn.), who fired a shot just inside the right post for her fourth goal of the season to give the Seahawks a 2-1 lead. Less than 10 minutes later, Duval pushed the lead to 3-1 as she converted a pass from sophomore Jordan Sileo (Bristol, Conn.) into her fifth goal of the season.

The Hawks answered back with a flurry on offense, but Vaudrain stood tall in the net for the Seahawks, making six saves to earn her sixth win and lower her goals against average (GAA) to 1.81.

"We have been working hard for this, and it's all about the kids," said Salve Regina head coach Kerri Scroope. "We showed up to play today. It's still early and we can't take any game lightly, but our kids are excited about being undefeated. It's one step at a time for us, but we're ready to do this."

Duval opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the season at 21:03 to give SRU an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Maggie Kane (Bangor, Maine) sent a corner kick into the box, and Duval headed the ball past senior goalkeeper Jen Garside (Londonderry, N.H.). The Hawks tied the score with 1:33 remaining in the half when Pendleton - who finished with a game-high seven shots - soared over the Seahawk defense and headed in a corner kick from classmate Alexa Maher (Hopewell, N.J.).

The Hawks finished the afternoon outshooting the Seahawks 27-11, including 16-6 in the second half. Garside finished with three saves for Roger Williams, which still leads the all-time series against Salve Regina 14-6-4.

The Seahawks return to action on Friday when they play at Nichols at 7:30 p.m.