Second half surge lifts Gulls over Hawks
April 19, 2008
BEVERLY, Mass. - 15th-ranked Endicott College erupted for nine second half goals as the Gulls flew past Roger Williams, 11-4, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference battle at Endicott Stadium in Beverly, Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Gulls to 11-2 overall and a perfect 6-0 in TCCC play. The Hawks fall to 7-6 and 5-2 in conference action.
A slow going first quarter was eventually broken-up by Endicott's Nick Cosco (Londonderry, N.H.). The reigning TCCC Offensive Player of the Week scored back-to-back goals to give the Gulls a 2-0 lead after one quarter of play. Cosco struck first on a slick 15 yard bounce shot to beat senior goaltender Bobby Hensley (Simsbury, Conn.) with 3:41 left in the first. Cosco doubled the lead to 2-0 with 1:12 showing on the clock as he stuck a shot top-shelf off a pass from John Ortolani (Billerica, Mass.) to give the Gulls a two-goal cushion.
The Hawks pulled even in the second quarter as Dave Hurley (Hanover, Mass.) and Beaver Barone (Weymouth, Mass.) accounted for the only scoring of the frame. Hurley found the back of the net off a feed from Sean Benner (Narberth, Pa.) just 1:49 into the second to make it a one goal game. Barone notched an unassisted tally as the speedy attackman used his quickness to get a shot off to beat TCCC Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC New England Goalie of the Week Eric Hagarty (Sudbury, Mass.), knotting the game at 2-all. The Gulls and the Hawks would fly into the intermission gridlocked in a 2-2 tie.
Endicott returned to the field a different team to open the third quarter as the Blue and Green scored five third quarter goals to blow the game open. Nick Cosco got his third of the afternoon as he raced to his right and found an opening in the upper-right hand corner of the net for the 3-2 lead. John Curtis (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Brad Lipkvich (Madison, Conn.) made it a 5-2 game as the duo scored consecutive goals just 3:23 apart to pad the Gulls' advantage.
Beaver Baron and Packy Markham (Cutchogue, N.Y.) did their best to keep the Hawks close as Barone found Markham on the goal-mouth for a nifty quick-stick goal to pull the visitors back within two. However that is as close as the Hawks would get as Endicott outscored RWU 6-1 down the stretch to earn the win.
Endicott was paced by Nick Cosco's five goals, upping his season total to a team-high 38. Brad Lipkvich closed out the day with two goals and two assists, while both Brandon Dube (Danvers, Mass.) and John Curtis had a goal and two helpers. Dan Cain (Billerica, Mass.) also notched two goals in the win. Sophomore goalie Eric Hagarty made 10 saves and senior face-off specialist John Ortolani went 13-of-19 from the X.
Roger Williams got a pair of goals from Packy Markham and a goal and assist from both Beaver Barone and Dave Hurley. Goalkeeper Bobby Hensley was exceptional on Saturday, as the senior made 17 saves with several coming from point-blank to keep the Hawks close throughout.
Endicott will put its undefeated conference record on the line as it heads to New England College on Tuesday afternoon for a 4:00 p.m. tilt with the Pilgrims. Roger Williams will travel to Dudley, Mass. on Wednesday evening for a night game with the Bison of Nichols College.