Middletown, R.I. - September 16, 2023 - Salve Regina University sophomore Julia Decker scored her third goal of the game with four seconds remaining in regulation as the Seahawks edged the Springfield College field hockey team, 5-4, in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both squads this afternoon at Gaudet Field.

Springfield evened its record to 3-3 overall (0-1 NEWMAC), while Salve Regina remained unbeaten and is now 4-0 (1-0 NEWMAC) this season.

Junior Molly Collins (Franklin, Mass.) scored the game's first goal as she ripped the ball into the back of the cage off a pass from senior Audrey Dolan (Westminster, Mass.). The goal for Collins was her second of the season and of her career.

Decker quickly gave Salve a 2-1 lead with back-to-back strikes just over a minute apart before junior Camryn Morano (Middleboro, Mass.) tipped in the equalizer - her second of the year - off a short feed from graduate student Kaitlin Bardellini (Northfield, N.H.) as the opening quarter ended with the score knotted at 2-2.

Neither team scored in the second, but less than six minutes into the third first-year Hailey Gaydos (Newington, Conn.) gave Springfield a 3-2 lead on an unassisted strike - her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

In the fourth, Shannon Kennedy tallied two goals in under a minute to regive Salve Regina a lead at 4-3 with less than five minutes to play. Just 30-seconds later, Bardellini was awarded a penalty stroke and buried it for her fourth tally of the season. In a wild back and forth five minutes of play, it was Decker who notched the game winner giving the Seahawks a 5-4 win.

In net, Springfield keeper Neilee Hess (Franklin, Mass.) registered a career-high 17 saves, while Salve netminder Bryn Protheroe made 16 stops.

Salve Regina held a 32-26 edge in shots, while Springfield posted a 9-8 advantage in penalty corners.

Springfield will travel to Trinity College in Hartford for a non-conference matchup with the No. 12 nationally-ranked Bantams at 6:00 pm.

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