SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Julia Decker figured in all three of Salve Regina University's goals, as the Seahawks defeated Mount Holyoke College 3-0 on Saturday in the team's first-ever meeting as NEWMAC opponents.
Salve Regina (8-4, 3-3 NEWMAC) recorded its first win against the Lyons (8-7, 1-5 NEWMAC), raising its record in the all-time series to 1-2. The teams' last meeting was in the 2000 season.
The Seahawks moved into a tie with Wellesley for fifth place in the NEWMAC with the win, while Mount Holyoke is tied with Springfield and Wheaton for seventh place.
Mount Holyoke earned a 12-5 advantage in penalty corners for the game, but Salve Regina outshot the Lyons by a 35-21 margin, including a 27-12 difference in shots on goal.
Mount Holyoke junior goalkeeper Rachel Katzenberg (Reisterstown, Md.) had 20 saves in the losing effort, while first-year Linnea Alsted (Crownsville, Md.) had three defensive saves and first-year Mackenzie Hillman (Newington, Conn.) also had one.
Salve Regina goalie Bryn Protheroe had 11 saves in the shutout, and Elizabeth Clark tallied a defensive save as well.
Salve Regina took a 1-0 lead at the end of one quarter, despite being outshot 7-4 by Mount Holyoke. The Seahawks got on the board in the 11th minute, as the ball came out to Decker out of a scrum near Mount Holyoke's goal. From the left wing, Decker flicked the ball to Kira Spadden alongside her, and Spadden shot through the crowd and into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Katzenberg and the Lyons held Salve Regina to the one goal through three quarters, while making 11 saves in the second quarter and six more in the third.
Salve Regina got an insurance goal in the 48th minute, as Shannon Kennedy received an entry pass and quickly shuttled it off in close to Decker, who beat Katzenberg to the ball to score her 15th goal of the season.
Decker added her 16th goal and Salve Regina ensured the victory in the 54th minute, as Liv Santiago deflected a cross to Decker behind her for another finish in close.
Mount Holyoke junior Jayonna Montigny (Enfield, Conn.) and graduate student Laurissa Montigny (Enfield, Conn.) put four shots on goal apiece for Mount Holyoke, and Alsted had two more shots on goal.
Mount Holyoke will next play at MIT on Tuesday at 6pm, while Salve Regina will host Clark University at 6:30 on Tuesday.
