NEWPORT, R.I. - First-year Melissa Toomey (Saugus, Mass.) collected a match-high 12 saves as the Bison were blanked by host Salve Regina on Wednesday in a Commonwealth Coast Conference women's soccer match. With the win, the Seahawks solidify the No. 7 seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship tournament, improving to 8-9-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the conference. The Bison's season comes to an end with a record of 3-12-2, falling to 0-9-0 during CCC play.

Senior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) notched her fourth hat trick of the year, breaking the Salve Regina record for goals in a season while graduate student Caitlin Eastwood (Seymour, Conn.) added a goal of her own. Senior Georgia Feroce (Shelton, Conn.) and sophomore Angelina Saporito (Bristol, Conn.) each dished-out an assist, while junior Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) made six saves in net to earn her fifth shutout of the season, improving to 8-9-1 overall.

The Seahawks wasted no time jumping on the board, as Feroce gathered a loose ball in the box off a corner kick and slipped a pass to Birrell who finished with her left foot to give the Seahawks a 1-0 advantage while tying her own program record for goals in a season with 19.

The Seahawks continued to apply pressure, outshooting the Bison 13-5 while also compiling a 6-0 edge in corners. However, Toomey managed to keep Salve Regina at bay with several nice saves, holding the score at 1-0 heading into halftime.

Salve Regina continued to cling to their one-goal lead into the 70th minute of play when Birrell gave the Seahawks some breathing room with a pair of unassisted tallies within five minutes of each other. In the process, the senior standout established a new program record for goals in a season with 21 total markers.

The Seahawks put the game away in the 81st minute when Saporito delivered a cross to Eastwood who found the back of the net to seal the 4-0 victory.

Pairings for the 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Soccer Championship are expected to be released on Wednesday night.

Courtesy Salve Regina Athletics