Field Hockey Downs Salve Regina 5-3 on Senior Day

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 12, 2019) – The Western New England University field hockey used a strong second half to earn a 5-3 victory against Salve Regina University on Saturday afternoon in CCC action at Golden Bear Stadium.

Top Performers
Senior forward Jacqueline Clark (Auburn, Mass.) scored two first half goals, while sophomores Ali Martin (South Windsor, Conn.) and Taylor Klesyk (Hamden, Conn.)  each scored in the third quarter, with Klesyk's goal resulting in being the game winner. Junior forward Haley Daigneault (Longmeadow, Mass) added an insurance goal in the fourth quarter.

Freshman goalie Lexie Hemstock (Cheshire, Conn.) saved four shots to earn the win.

Salve Regina's offense was led by senior Ashley Cody (Pawling, N.Y.) scoring two goals. Sophomore Hannah Bedrosian (Seekonk, Mass.) also tallied a goal.

Game Review
Salve Regina got on the board first just under eight minutes into the game, when Cody scored on an unassisted goal following a penalty corner.

Salve held that lead until midway through the second quarter until Clark nabbed the equalizer. Following a penalty corner, sophomore Maggie Gallagher (West Chester, Pa) played the ball towards the net where Clark redirected it to tie the game at one.

Western New England took their first lead of the match just a few minutes later when senior Jessica Clifford (Auburn, Mass.)

played the ball from the baseline towards goal, finding Clark who again redirected the ball to the far post and into the back of the net.

Salve found the equalizer early in the third quarter, when following a penalty corner, junior Taylor Bulis (Lakeville, Mass.) found Cody in front of goal. Cody was then able to push the ball past the Western New England defense to tie the game.

In the final seconds of the third quarter, Western New England took the lead again through Martin. Clark took a penalty corner, hitting it straight to Martin, who controlled the ball and fired it through the Salve defense and into the back of the net.

Western New England added to their lead early in the fourth quarter with what would be the eventual game winner. Following a shot by senior Madison Barron (Lebanon, Pa.) that was saved, Klesyk pounced on it and smashed it into the back of the net to give the Golden Bears a 4-2 lead.

The Golden Bears added an insurance goal with just under six minutes left in the game when Daigneault popped the ball up past a defender and then slipped it past Salve goalkeeper Casey Febus (Souderton, Pa.) to extend the lead to 5-2.

Salve scored a consolation goal with under a minute left in the game when following a penalty corner, senior Vanessa Frost (North Attleboro, Mass.) played the ball towards the side of the goal to Bedrosian for a simple tap in to cut into the three goal deficit.

Notes
• Western New England's win over Salve Regina evens the season series at one apiece following their loss to the Seahawks earlier in the season, 2-0.
• Western New England outshot Salve 19-15 in the win.

Up Next
Western New England (7-6) remains at home to take on Gordon in CCC action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Salve Regina (8-4) returns home to host Johnson & Wales (RI) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.