WESTON, Mass. – Regis College midfielder Sashae Walls (Everett, Mass.) scored two goals, including the game-winner and added three defensive saves as the Pride defeated the visiting Bay Path University Wildcats 4-0 at Regis Stadium on Friday evening in the New England Collegiate Conference opener for both squads. With the victory, the Pride end their five game losing streak and move to 2-5 on the year, 1-0 in the conference, while the Wildcats fall to 0-5 on the season and suffer their first conference loss (0-1).
The victory improves the Pride's record to 4-0 against the Wildcats dating back to 2011 with Regis out scoring Bay Path 15-0 in those contests.
Bay Path had the first chance of the game off a penalty corner opportunity. Katherine Chabot (Brookfield, Mass.) took the chance and passed it off to Elizabeth Deane (Agawam, Mass.) Deane was waiting for the pass and rifled a shot towards the cage but Sashae Walls was there and made a fine defensive save on the attempted shot.
Regis was led by three first half goals which all came during the first seven minutes of the contest. The Pride jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage when Sashae Walls took the penalty corner chance. She handed the ball off to junior forward Laurie DeMars (Maynard, Mass.) who then crossed it into the box to sophomore forward Kelsey Morton (S. Portland, Maine). Morton redirected the pass backside to a waiting Walls who put the ball in the back of the cage.
Bay Path had an opportunity to knot up the score early, but was denied by Pride goalie Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.). Madison Hall-Martin (Springfield, Mass.) put the shot on net but was turned away by Heck's pad. The ball was loose in front of the cage and Alison Schoen (Southampton, Mass.) tried to sneak one past Heck but her shot ended up wide of the cage.
Two minutes later, Walls added her second goal of the contest. She took the corner chance again and passed the ball into the box to Becka Sarson (York, Maine). Sarson had no shot then dished the ball off to sophomore midfielder Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.). Casello had a chance and took her shot that ended up bouncing off goalie Anna Meyer's (Millbrook, N.Y.) pad, Walls was in front of the net waiting for a rebound and got one as she tipped the ball into the cage and the Pride advantage increased to 2-0.
The Pride rounded out their first half scoring binge after sophomore midfielder Sam Anderson (Sandwich, Mass.) made a fine defensive play stealing the ball away during a Wildcats attack at midfield. She saw teammate Laurie DeMars streaking up the center of the field and passed the ball off to her. DeMars had a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper and made a crafty move and put the ball past her and in the process the Pride's lead grew to 3-0. DeMars added another goal later on in the second half as well, rounding Regis' scoring.
Bay Path was outshot 27-9 during the game as the majority of the game was played in the Wildcats defensive zone. The Pride were also awarded 14 penalty corners as well, while Bay Path was only awarded two. Raegan Heck made three saves on the night and earned her second win of the season. Anna Meyer earned the loss for Wildcats and made 17 saves, while Corinne LaChapelle (Buckland, Mass.) and Jennifer Dawson (Buckland, Mass.) made one defensive save a piece.
Regis travels to New London, N.H. next Thursday night, September 25th when they take on Colby-Sawyer College in a non-conference matchup with game-time slated for 4:00 p.m, while Bay Path continues their road trip against non-conference foe Thomas College tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.