Box Score
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Salve Regina University freshman forward Marissa Gagnon (Smithfield, R.I.) scored twice in the second half but the Seahawks could not catch Gordon College after the visiting Scots built a 3-0 first half lead. Gordon held on for a 4-3 victory over Salve Regina and assumed control of its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) field hockey playoff destination with a sweep of the season series with the Seahawks.
Gordon came out flying as sophomore defender Katherine Bailey (Baltimore, Md.) drove home the first goal with an assist from sophomore midfielder Karli Balmer (Perkasie, Pa.) at 4:49. Balmer subsequently added two more scores in the first half including a goal with 14 seconds left in the period.
Salve Regina's offense got on track when junior forward Lisa Bucci (Irvington, N.Y.) converted a penalty corner from junior forward Heather Kapatoes (Hopedale, Mass.) five minutes into the second period. Bucci's goal was her 11th of the season ranking her second on the Seahawks (8-8; 3-6 CCC), behind only senior Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.).
Gagnon scored her seventh goal of the season with an assist from Burke, pulling the Seahawks within one (3-2) with over ten minutes remaining in the second half.
Senior defense Melinda Fowler (Winslow, Maine) flipped a shot over Salve Regina goaltender Murphy McCann (Westerly, R.I.) three minutes later to regain the two-goal advantage for the Scots (6-12; 3-6 CCC). But the Seahawk offensive surge continued as Gagnon responded with her eighth tally of the year with just over five minutes remaining.
McCann made six saves for the Seahawks while junior Anna Bury (Huntington, Md.) stopped five for the Scots.
The teams stand tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the conference and each has one game remaining. Salve Regina needs a win at University of New England on Saturday coupled with a Gordon loss at Western New England University. Both contests begin at 1 p.m.
Release courtesy of Salve Regina sports information.
