Birrell scores twice as Seahawks blank WPI

NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) scored a pair of unassisted goals to help lead the Salve Regina University women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over WPI at Reynolds Field on Thursday evening. The win was the second straight for the Seahawks, as well as their fourth in five tries, improving the teams record to 4-2-0 on the season, while the Engineers fall to 2-3-0 overall.

Birrell led the way for Salve Regina, scoring a goal in each half while compiling 10 shots on goal. The senior forward now has a total of six goals over her last two contests. Junior Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) earned the shutout in net for the Seahawks, making six saves to improve to 4-2-0 on the season.

WPI goalkeeper Maddie Willer (Penfield, N.Y.) stood out for the Engineers, keeping her team in the game with several outstanding saves, turning away a game-high 13 shots in the tough-luck loss. 

The Seahawks outshot the Engineers 15-to-7 in the opening 37 minutes of the contest but couldn't get on the scoreboard. Willer made several impressive saves for WPI, while senior Ashley Jamieson (Warwick, R.I.) and sophomore Britt Blanchette (Hope, R.I.) both hit the crossbar. Salve Regina was also denied when a goal was overturned due to an offsides call in the 21st minute of play.

The Seahawks finally broke through in the 39th minute when Birrell dribbled around several defenders at the top of the box and then finished with her right foot, blasting a shot into the right side to give Salve Regina a 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

Birrell expanded the Seahawks' lead to 2-0 with an impressive unassisted marker in the 63rd minute. Gathering the ball roughly 35 yards from the goal, Birrell beat a handfull of defenders, including a 2-on-1 inside the box before knocking home her second goal of the game.

The Engineers had a couple of chances to get on the board late, but McPherson saved shots from WPI's Theresa Renna (Clark, N.J.) and Emily Doherty (Shresbury, Mass.) to preserve the 2-0 victory.

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, as the Engineers travel to play Wheaton at 1 p.m., and the Seahawks host Gordon in their conference opener at noon.