Women's Soccer Blanks Salve Regina, 4-0

NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior forward Michelle Belcher (Norton, Mass.) tallied a pair of goals and added an assist to lead the visiting Bridgewater State University women's soccer team to a 4-0 shutout victory over Salve Regina University on Tuesday evening at Toppa Field.

The Bears improve to 1-2 on the young season with their first win, while the Seahawks fall to 3-3. Bridgewater State is now 14-4-1 (8-1-1 on the road) versus Salve since 2002 as the two teams have met in each of the last 19 seasons.

Belcher potted the Bears' first goal of the season in the 11th minute to open the scoring. Sophomore midfielder Audra McDuffie (Millbury, Mass.) collected a punt near midfield, beat a defender and dribbled the ball down the right side. McDuffie slipped a short crossing pass to Belcher who beat the Salve netminder with a perfectly placed shot from ten yards out into the top right corner of the net.

For Belcher, the goal marked her first in a BSU uniform.

Junior midfielder Erin Clancey (Middletown, R.I.) made it a 2-0 game in the 29th minute. Off a corner kick, senior defender Samantha Tomaszewski (Sterling, Mass.) deflected the ball over to Clancey who delivered a shot from the left side inside the far post.

McDuffie converted a header off a long volley from Belcher in the 52nd minute to extend the lead to 3-0. The goal marked the first of McDuffie's collegiate career.

Belcher netted her second goal of the night and capped off the scoring as she beat the Salve keeper on a breakaway off an assist from sophomore defender Megan Keller (Northborough, Mass.) in the 58th minute.

The Bears finished with a 10-2 shot advantage for the game as well as a 10-3 edge in corner kick attempts.

Senior goalkeeper Tory Viola-Laughery (Brockton, Mass.) made two saves to record her first collegiate win and shutout for the Bears.

Junior netminder Georgia Drake (Mashpee, Mass.) turned aside four shots in the setback for the Seahawks.

Both teams are back in action on Thursday night at seven. The Bears travel to Emmanuel College while the Seahawks head to Worcester State University.