Newport, RI --- WPI held a halftime lead on Saturday, but Salve Regina scored twice in the second half to rally for a 2-1 NEWMAC women's soccer victory over the Engineers at Reynolds Field.
The result leaves the Crimson and Gray at 5-5-2 overall and 2-1-2 in NEWMAC play, while the Seahawks improve to 7-2-3 overall and 4-1-0 in conference action.
Jess English (Ledyard, CT) gave WPI a 1-0 advantage at 34:56, scoring her second goal of the season. English's first-half strike stood through the break as the Engineers looked to carry the lead into the second half.
Salve Regina responded in the 69th minute when
Alexandra Epright (Middletown, CT) scored unassisted at 69:19 to even the contest at 1-1. The Seahawks continued to press and found the decisive goal at 84:02, when
Allie Gallagher (Staten Island, NY) scored unassisted for her third goal of the season.
WPI goalkeeper
Ayla Verheul (Naarden, The Netherlands) turned aside 10 shots, keeping the Engineers within reach throughout the match. Salve Regina's
Sabrina Lawless (Milford, CT) made six saves to preserve the home side's one-goal advantage.
Salve Regina finished with a 28-17 edge in shots and a 12-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Seahawks also held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. WPI generated 17 shots and put seven on target, but could not find an equalizer in the closing minutes.
The Crimson and Gray were led offensively by
Asha Comiso (West Hartford, CT), who recorded four shots, including two on goal, while
Maeve Steckley (Irondequoit, NY) added three shots.
Sarah Frye (Nashua, NH) put both of her attempts on target. For Salve Regina, Jessuck, Mastroianni, Hudson and each registered four shots. Hudson and Gallagher each put two attempts on goal, while Gallagher scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute.
Both teams return to NEWMAC action Wednesday with matchups in Wellesley. WPI visits Wellesley for a 3pm kickoff, while Salve Regina is across town in Babson Park to take on the Beavers at 3:30pm.
