Field Hockey Battles in 2-1 Loss to MIT

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Endicott Field Hockey team took a 1-0 first half lead at regional power MIT but the Engineers scored the next two goals to hand the Gulls a 2-1 loss in non-conference field hockey action. The win is the third straight for the Engineers, who improve to 9-2 on the 2011 campaign, while Endicott falls to 1-7 with the loss. 

The Gulls mounted a sustained attack on the Tech defense early on, outshooting MIT, 4-1, in the game's first eight minutes before Hanna Thornberg (Oakland, Maine) put the visitors on the board just under ten minutes into the contest. It was Thornberg's ninth goal of the year. 

The Cardinal and Gray was able to stem the tide and turn the pressure around following the first Endicott goal, testing the Endicott defense with seven shots on goal over the next eight minutes. Gulls' goalie Taylor Teixeira (Exeter, N.H.) and the defense were able to keep Tech off the board initially, with help from Robin Hunt (Hampton, N.H.) who picked up two of her three defensive saves during the stretch. 

MIT was awarded a penalty stroke following Hunt's second defensive save, which Katie Kauffman (Olney, Md.) converted to even things up at one midway through the frame. Sophomore Molly Duffy's (New Providence, N.J.) put-back early in the second half proved to be the game winner for the hosts.

The MIT attack persisted early in the second, as the Engineers peppered Teixeira with five quick shots before Duffy recorded her game-winning tally. After entering the ball on a penalty corner, Duffy positioned herself on the far post and was in perfect position to collect the rebound off Kameron Klauber's (Carlsbad, Calif.) initial shot and push it home to put Tech ahead for good. 

MIT had a number of chances to pick up an insurance marker down the stretch, earning 13 penalty corners in the second half and getting off 20 shots. Erin Kenney (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) nearly registered her first career goal late in the game but her shot rang off the post. 

Teixeira was excellent in goal for the Gulls, recording 17 saves, including a terrific diving stop of Klauber on a first-half breakaway. Casey Landry (Peabody, Mass.) and Jenna Klein (Parma, Ohio) split time in net for the Cardinal and Gray, combining for a pair of stops. 

Endicott hosts St. Joseph's (Maine) on Thursday, September 29 at 6:00 p.m. MIT will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday, traveling to Smith College for a 1:00 p.m. contest.