Seahawks fall short despite Birrell's hat trick, 4-3

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Kaitlyn Birrell 's (Hope, R.I.) hat trick wasn't enough, as the Salve Regina University women's soccer team fell 4-3 versus Wentworth in Commonwealth Coast Conference action on Sweeney Field.

Salve Regina struck first when senior Birrell scored the first of her three goals at the 14:05 mark. Birrell took a pass from freshman Samantha Cristante (North Haven, Conn.) and split the Leopard defense, putting home a shot to the left side.

Less than two minutes later Wentworth knotted the score at a goal apiece when sophomore Beverly Farris (Palmer, Mass.) served a free kick from just inside the midfield line that classmate Tori Armishaw (Scarborough, Maine) headed into the back of the net. The game remained tied until Birrell gave the Seahawks a 2-1 lead when she headed in a graduate student Caitlin Eastwood (Seymour, Conn.) to the left side at 21:40.

The Leopards tied the score at 29:35 when Cook rifled a shot from just outside the box that hit the crossbar. Senior Elizabeth Somma (Windham, Maine) was in front of the goal mouth and put home the rebound. Leopard sophomore Olivia Moore (Salem, Conn.) capped off a high-scoring first half when she gave the hosts a 3-2 lead off a feed from junior Kelsea Miller (Bremen, Maine) at 33:12.

Birrell notched her third of the contest – and 16th of the season – when she snuck a shot inside the left post off a pass from junior Stephanie DeLue (Hadley, Mass.) 6:16 into the second half.

Cook's game winner came when she served a corner kick from the left side that snaked its way into the back of the right side of the net. The Seahawks had chances to tie the game late, including having a corner kick late in the 88th minute, but the shot attempt off the play went high.

Senior Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.) made 14saves, including eight in the second half, to pick up the win. Salve Regina junior Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) made seven saves for the Seahawks, who held a 32-19 shot advantage and a 12-3 corner kick advantage.

With the win Wentworth improves to 5-9-1 overall and 3-3-0 in league play. The Leopards are at the University of New England on Wednesday. Salve Regina falls to 7-6-1 (2-3-1) and hosts Eastern Nazarene, also on Wednesday.

Release Courtesy of WIT Sports Information