NEWPORT, R.I. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth field hockey team were bested by Salve Regina University, 4-0, on the road during a non-conference tilt from Gaudet Field. The Corsairs are now 1-5 overall while the Seahawks moved to a perfect 5-0 start on the season.
Corsairs goalie
Shane Cueman posted eight saves in the cage as the Seahawks offense controlled the opening 12 minutes of the first period. Salve Regina took a 1-0 edge after Bella Gannon collected the ball off a rebound at the 12:25 mark to give the home team their first lead of the game. The Seahawks continued their attacking pressure in the second period recording eight total shots in the period, six of which Cueman stopped, to keep Salve Regina off the scoreboard heading into halftime.
Midway through the third period, junior
Arlene Johnson fired a shot on target for UMass Dartmouth that Seahawks goalie Siany Ortez was able save for her first stop of the evening. Salve Regina responded by putting 6-of-7 shots on frame, but Cueman added six more stops to hold the home team to a one-goal lead entering the final period of the contest.
In the fourth period, Julia Decker scored two quick goals for the Seahawks to extend Salve Regina's advantage to 3-0 six minutes into play. Decker cemented Salve Regina's win with her third goal of the game at the 53:33 mark by a final score of 4-0.
Johnson recorded the lone shot of the game for UMass Dartmouth during the third period. Cueman finished the contest with a career-high 31 total saves and four goals allowed against Salve Regina. She previously owned a career-high 25 saves which she recorded at Smith College last season on October 29th. Cueman matched her 25 save performance this year against Westfield State University on September 6th before breaking her personal record tonight at Salve Regina with 31 stops.
UMass Dartmouth returns to Little East Conference (LEC) action on Friday, September 19
th hosting the Owls of Keene State College at 7:00 p.m. from Cressy Field.
