Top-Seeded JWU Claims Fourth Consecutive GNAC Field Hockey Title; Punches Ticket to NCAA's
Recap Courtesy of the Johnson & Wales Athletic Communications Department
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Graduate student Megan Salsinha scored three goals to help the JWU (Providence) field hockey team capture its fourth-straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship with a 4-2 win over Simmons University Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.
Freshman Ava Gaudette finished with a career-high three assists and sophomore Ava Pontespicked up a pair as the Wildcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit to improve to 18-3 on the season. Salsinha, meanwhile, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament and was joined on the GNAC All-Tournament Team by sophomore Sophia Brea, senior Haley Budenas, and sophomore Rayne Millett.
The Sharks (18-4) struck for a pair of goals in the opening 6:35 of the contest to grab an early lead and stun the home crowd. JWU got on the board with three minutes remaining in the first when Salsinha polished off a penalty corner for her 16th goal of the season.
Just 47 seconds into the second, Bangs redirected a sweeping shot from Salsinha into the cage for her 14th of the season to tie the game at two. Salsinha netted the eventual game-winner with two seconds remaining in the first half, slamming home a pass from Gaudette and spoiling. The goal spoiled what was an otherwise dominant first half for the Sharks as they outshot the home team 7-3 and held a 6-3 edge in penalty corners.
Salsinha pushed the JWU lead to two goals 1:27 into the second half with a high shot from the slot to cap off her fourth hat trick of 2024 and second in the tournament. Brea, meanwhile, stopped seven shots to improve to 14-4 on the season.
Winners of 17-straight contests, the Wildcats now await to see where they will travel to for their NCAA First Round matchup next week.
Field Hockey All-Tournament Team
New England College - Drea Chin, Taylor Bailey
Saint Joseph's (Maine) - Sadie Tirrell, Kassidy Collins
Simmons - Alison Michalik, Emilia Elko, Lilly Taglieri
Johnson & Wales - Sophia Brea, Haley Budenas, Rayne Millett, Megan Salsinha (MVP)
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 21 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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