Two Late Goals Lift Gulls to 2-1 Victory Over Gordon; Endicott Advances to Third CCC Title Game in Four Years

2014 CCC Field Hockey Championship Interactive Bracket

2014-15 Endicott Athletics Championship Central

WENHAM, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team traveled to Gordon on Wednesday evening for the 2014 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals. After trailing for most of the game the Blue and Green tallied two goals in the final 11 minutes of regulation to lift to a 2-1 victory. With the win the Gulls will advance to the CCC Championship match which is slated for Saturday, November 8^th at the University of New England at 1:00 p.m.

Endicott broke a four game losing streak with the Fighting Scots and will head back to the CCC Championship game. The last time the Gulls were in the finals was back in 2012 where Endicott won their second consecutive title. Saturday will mark the second championship battle with UNE as the Gulls defeated the Nor'easters for the 2011 title.

The first half was controlled by the Blue and Green as they outshot the Fighting Scots 6-3 while holding the tempo through the midfield and earning seven penalty corners. Endicott worked to keep the offensive pressure in full swing by taking five consecutive corners but the strong Gordon defense just would not allow the Gulls to capitalize.

At the 21 minute mark the Fighting Scots took a 1-0 lead after senior Brittany Hawkins (Hampstead, N.H.) forced a scramble in the circle to notch her 10^th goal of the season. Endicott continued to control the tempo as they worked to gain offensive pressure with strong efforts by Offensive Player of the Year, Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) and All-CCC First Team honoree, Ashleigh Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.) however the efforts would not be enough as they trailed by one at the end of the half.

The second half was again controlled by the Blue and Green as they took 14 shots while holding the Fighting Scots to two and earning eight penalty corners. After forcing many offensive opportunities the Gulls finally tallied the game tying goal with just under 11 minutes remaining in regulation. After an initial shot by senior Liz LeClair (Wilton, Maine), sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Hicks (Scarborough, Maine) saved the ball but was unable to move the ball into fair play as they forced the penalty stroke opportunity for Endicott. Allen stepped up to the stroke mark for the fifth time this season as she continued her perfect run at 5-5 as she beat Hicks on the right side.

With the game tied and the 2014 season on the line Endicott went full throttle on the offensive end using their skilled press to cause multiple Gordon turnovers with strong efforts by senior Kathryn Walker (Middlebury, Conn) and LeClair. At the 62 minute mark freshman Maggie Layo (Sandwich, Mass.) tallied her fourth goal of the season after controlling a bobble off Hicks and blasting the ball into the back of the net.

The goal would be all the Blue and Green needed as it would mark as the eventual game winner to boost Endicott back into the conference championship after a one year hiatus.

The Gulls and the Nor'easters split in their two meetings this season while the Blue and Green have yet to earn a victory on the Big Blue Turf in Biddeford. Endicott will look to bring home the programs third championship in just four years.