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 Pontes picked 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.