No. 10 WNEC dominates 12th-ranked Endicott

April 4, 2009

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - 10th-ranked Western New England College made a statement on Saturday, downing No. 12 Endicott College, 13-4, in a rematch of last year's The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship game. The loss was the first regular season conference setback for the Gulls since the 2002 season, a winning streak that reached 52 games. The Golden Bears improve to 6-1 (3-0 TCCC) while the Gulls fall to 8-2 (3-1 TCCC).

WNEC junior Tim Santye (Skillman, N.J.) led the attack with three goals and two assists while senior Scott Kukis (Sudbury, Mass.) and freshman Nick Jez (Somers, Conn.) each netted three goals.

Endicott took an early 1-0 lead when senior Brandon Dube (Danvers, Mass.) fired home a shot just 1:28 into the contest.

Kukis knotted the contest at the 11:14 mark before the Gulls took their last lead following a score by senior Eddie O'Reilly (Beverly, Mass.) with 5:07 left in the period.

Jez hit the back of the net with 7:50 left in the second quarter and Kukis scored 16 seconds later to give WNEC the lead for good. Kukis added his final goal with 5:36 left in the half as the hosts took a 4-2 lead at intermission.

The Gulls pulled within a goal when junior Brad Lipkvich (Madison, Conn.) scored 1:20 into the third period.

Western New England College answered with nine consecutive goals to break the game open. The Golden Bears' defense held Endicott scoreless for 27 minutes, 40 seconds.

Seniors Matt McAnneny (Wakefield, Mass.) and Jared Pabis (Wilbraham, Mass.) each had eight ground balls. Freshman goalie Brewster Knowlton (Somers, Conn.) finished with seven saves.