WESTON, Mass. – Seniors Kristen Abreu (Woburn, Mass.) and Joana Rosa (Boston, Mass.) recorded four points apiece as the Regis College women's soccer team earned their first New England Collegiate Conference victory by defeating Bay Path University 5-1 during Pride Fest on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Crimson and Gold improve to 2-5-1, 1-0-0 NECC and the setback drops the Wildcats to 3-4-0, 0-1-0 NECC.
Abreu scored her first goal of the season during the 77 minute of the contest after she knocked home a rebound off a Sam Salamone (Milford, Mass.) shot. She also assisted on both goals by Rosa, who secured her first multi-goal game of the season. Rosa is the team leader with four goals on the campaign.
Rosa opened up the scoring in the 14th minute after Abreu crossed the ball to the left side of the box while Rosa was there to head the ball home into the net.
A minute after the goal, the Wildcats had their only scoring opportunity of the half. As Bay Path had control of the ball, they raced down towards the Pride's defensive zone, they tried to set up their offense, but the team leader in goals Jailinne Ruiz (Hadley, Mass.) was hurried into a shot that sailed wide of the cage.
Regis kept ripping shots towards Bay Path goaltender Briana Kujawski (Webster, Mass.) as they put eight shots on net before they finally broke through for an insurance goal in the 37th minute. Sophomore midfielder Shannon Cafua (Watertown, Mass.) and the Pride offense were streaking down the field towards the Wildcats zone. Cafua had the rock in the middle of the pitch and slipped a pass through the Bay Path defense to Hannah Bouvette (Mattapoisett, Mass.). Bouvette secured the pass and beat the keeper one-on-one to increase the Pride advantage to 2-0 at the intermission.
Regis scored three goals during the second half including freshman defender Valery Mata's (Randolph, Mass.) first career collegiate goal that came in the 87th minute off a rebound. Dallas Jackson scored the lone goal for the Wildcats a minute later after Caryn Piacenti and Jackson connected on a give-and-go with Jackson burying the shot past Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.).
The Wildcats were outshot 32-5 in the contest, while the Crimson and Gold also held the advantage in corner kicks (6-1). Rachel Gagnon made three saves during the victory. Briana Kujawski stopped 13 shots in the loss.
Regis travels to Rhode Island College on Tuesday, September 29th for a 6:00 p.m. contest with the Anchorwomen.