NEWPORT, RI. – Wesleyan field hockey explodes for a season-high eight goals in their 8-4 victory over Salve Regina. The Cardinals got off to a quick start, scoring five first half goals to take a 5-2 lead into the half. Wesleyan would continue their offensive attack in the second half, producing three more goals to reach their season high. They pick up a win in their final non-conference game of the regular season to improve to 4-9 on the season. They look to finish out strong in their final two NESCAC games of the year. Salve Regina drops to 5-9 with the loss.

Wesleyan and Salve Regina have some history despite not playing in the same conference. The Cardinals have taken all five meetings between the two since they played their first game back in 2007, outscoring the Gulls 27-6 in that span. Also within that span came Wesleyan's highest scoring game in their history back in 2010, when they put 12 in the back of the cage in a dominating 12-0 win over Salve Regina.

Wesleyan applied offensive pressure all game, and it started early. Diana Schwarz '23 managed two first period goals to get the scoring started for the Cardinals. She opened with a diving backhanded score off of a corner, then followed that up with another one just before the quarter ended to give Wesleyan an early lead.

The teams traded goals to begin the 2^nd quarter, first it was Salve Regina, followed by a Imani Ochieng '25 score just seconds later. The Cards added two more before the half to reach the score of 5-2, 30 minutes in. Addie Defeo '24 was the third Cardinal to put one past the Gulls' goalie, followed by a Kenzie Kelly '25 goal off a rebound just two minutes later.

Kelly added her second goal of the game in the 3^rd quarter, however it was sandwiched in between three Salve Regina scores to trim the Gulls deficit to just two going into the 4^th. Wesleyan controlled the final quarter, producing nine shots to Salve's two and adding two more insurance scores to take home their 5^th win of 2022.

The Cardinals put up 40+ shots for the first time since 2010, when they faced off against Salve Regina. Of those 42 shots, 31 were on goal which was also the most since 2010. Wesleyan also produced a season-high 19 penalty corners to go along with the season-highs in goals, shots, and shots on goal.

Schwarz scored her 8^th and 9^th goals of the season, placing her tied for 5^th in the conference in that category. Kelly scored her first two goals of the season. Athena Vadnal '25 played her first complete game in goal this season for the Cards, saving six shots.

Wesleyan will end the regular season with two important NESCAC games. The first will be at No.16 Bowdoin on Saturday October 22^nd.