Women's soccer falls to Cardinals on road, 3-0

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - The Salve Regina University women's soccer dropped a 3-0 decision on the road versus Wesleyan on Wednesday evening.  In their previous two meetings, the visiting team had proven victorious, Wesleyan by a 3-0 count at Salve Regina last year, and Salve Regina, by a 3-1 score in Middletown in 2010.

The Cardinals wasted little time getting on the board, striking for a 1-0 lead just 1:12 into the contest.  Freshman Beth Alexion brought the ball down the left side and passed ahead to fellow freshman Isabel Clements, who took a quick, left-footed shot that got past Salve junior keeper Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.).  The ball was headed toward the open goal just inside the right post but to be sure it reached its mark, senior Mikaela Curtin smacked the ball hard into the net from a few feet out to get credit for the goal, her first of the year.  Clements and Alexion got the assists.

Wesleyan tacked on its second goal in the 23rd minute on a perfectly executed corner kick by junior Kerry Doyle, who put the ball right on the head of sophomore Clare Ashforth for her first goal of the season.  The margin improved to 3-0 in the 76th minute as senior Laura Kurash got her second marker of the year with a left-footed shot from 20 yards out after working with Curtin near the top of the box.  Salve appeared to have a chance to clear on the last pass between Curtin and Kurash, but the loose ball went to Kurash and she put it home.

Salve was not without its scoring opportunities, outshot just 25-19.  Top scorer senior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) had the best chances for the Seahawks but was robbed on a great stop by sophomore goalie Jessica Tollman from 15 yards away in the first half, then just missed the net to the right midway through the second half from 20 yards away with a bullet shot.  She came into the game with eight goals in seven games played.  Another ball that got by Wesleyan's second-half goalie, freshman Rachel Hobert, was stopped at the goal line by a pair of Cardinal defender.  Tollman finished the game with three saves during her 45 minutes.  Hobert had one stop.  McPherson was busy in the Seahawk net, stopping 13 Cardinal scoring bids.

Wesleyan returns to action Sat., Sept. 22 when it travels to NESCAC and Little Three rival Williams.  Salve plays again Saturday as well, hosting Western New England  in a CCC contest.

Release Courtesy of Wesleyan Sports Information