MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -- Salve Regina University field hockey hosts Western New England University in a non-league matchup at Gaudet Field in Middletown, Rhode Island, on Tuesday evening, and the visitors never trailed as the Golden Bears won 5-2.

Hannah Curtis scored her first collegiate goal for a 1-0 lead after the first quarter. Julia Decker scored her team-leading 16th goal of the season to tie the score (1-1) in the second quarter. The Golden Bears had a 3-1 halftime lead after goals from Sarah Johnston and Analise Trani. In the second half, Natalie Vaughan inched the Seahawks closer with her fourth goal of the season. before Western New England added third quarter (Kayla Antonelli) and fourth quarter (Mckenna Cooke) goals.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Western New England 5, Salve Regina 2
Records: Salve Regina (11-6, 4-4 NEWMAC), Western New England (10-6, 3-1 CNE)
History: As fellow members of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (now Conference of New England) from 2007 through 2023, Salve Regina and Western New England met twice a season (home and away) from 2011 through 2019. After the pandemic, the conference schedule reduced to one meeting (2021 and 2022) while the Seahawks and Golden Bears renewed acquaintances last year during Salve Regina's inaugural season in the NEWMAC. Salve Regina enters tonight with a 17-13 mark in the all-time series which began in 1994. The Seahawks had won 14 of the last 20 meetings including last year's first non-league meeting in over a decade, 2-1, in Springfield. Prior to that, the Golden Bears had won the previous three meetings including their last visit to Gaudet Field, 6-2 in 2022.

SUMMARY

• 9:32 | GOAL by Western New Eng. Hannah Curtis (FIRST GOAL), goal number 1 for season.
• 20:28 | GOAL by Salve Regina Julia Decker, Assist by Shannon Kennedy, goal number 16 for season.
• 23:49 | GOAL by Western New Eng. Sarah Johnston, Assist by Mackenna Cooke, goal number 11 for season.
• 25:38 | GOAL by Western New Eng. Analise Trani, Assist by Sarah Johnston, goal number 2 for season.
• 34:42 | GOAL by Salve Regina Natalie Vaughan, Assist by Angelina Regels, goal number 4 for season.
• 41:30 | GOAL by Western New Eng. Kayla Antonelli, Assist by Mackenna Cooke, goal number 3 for season.
• 57:04 | GOAL by Western New Eng. Mackenna Cooke, goal number 6 for season.

NOTEWORTHY

• Julia Decker got a long feed from Shannon Kennedy for her 16th goal of the season.
• Bryn Protheroe made seven saves (four in the fourth) while Zoey Wexler stopped three shots.
• Golden Bears led in penalty corners, 9 to 5, including four in the final quarter.
• Western New England outshot Salve Regina, 15-6.

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina hosts #16 Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the final regular season NEWMAC contest on Saturday, November 2, at noon on Gaudet Field.