Scots spoil Seahawks CCC opener, 3-1

NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Caitlin Nedde (Colchester, Vt.) scored two of Gordon College's three first half goals as the Scots defeated the Salve Regina University women's soccer team during the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener for both clubs at Reynolds Field on Saturday afternoon. The Seahawks slide to 4-3-0 on the season and 0-1-0 in the conference, while the Scots improve to 6-0-0 overall and 1-0-0 during CCC play.

Salve Regina senior forward Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) continued her scoring streak by notching the Seahawks' lone goal. Birrell now has seven goals over her past three games and currently leads the conference in scoring. Her second half score marked the first goal surrendered by the Scots all season. Junior Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) made eight saves on the afternoon in net for Salve Regina.

Nedde led the Scots with her two scores, while junior goalie Kari Christensen (Standish, Maine) made a game-high 11 saves to improve to 6-0-0 on the year. Sophomore Hannah Midwinter (Barkhamsted, Conn.) added a goal for the visitors, while junior Kendra Woudenberg (Whitinsville, Mass.) and senior Karina Scavo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) each contributed an assist in the win.

Nedde put the Scots on the board in the 15th minute, heading home a nice cross by Woudenberg to give the Scots an early 1-0 lead.

Nedde expanded Gordon's lead less then four minutes later, taking a corner from Scavo and heading it home to put GC on top, 2-0.

Midwinter finished the first half scoring with an unassisted marker in the 27th minute, drilling a shot into the right side of the net to send the Scots into the break leading 3-0.

The Seahawks finally broke through in the 62nd minute of play when Birrell broke away to score the first goal allowed by Gordon all season, cutting the GC lead to 3-1.

The two teams played scoreless the rest of the way, as the Scots held on for the 3-1 victory. 

The Scots will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting Brandeis at 7 p.m., while the Seahawks hit the road to face Wesleyan at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.