Gulls Edge Nazareth in First Game of Rochester Trip

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Endicott opened their spring break trip to New York by slipping past the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College 12-11 on Friday evening in the first meeting between the women's lacrosse programs of each school.

The Gulls had seven different goal scorers, including five different contributors in the first half, and improve their record to 2-1, while the Golden Flyers see their ledger even at 2-2.

Callie Murphy (Woburn, Mass.) scored three times for Endicott, including what would prove to be the game-winner with 10:09 left in regulation. At that point, the Gulls led 12-9, but the visitors would have to hold off a late comeback by Nazareth that made the final a one-goal affair. Murphy also won four draw controls and added a ground ball and a caused turnover.

All three of Murphy's goals came in the second half, which opened with the teams knotted at six goals apiece. She began the half with a tally under a minute in and then, after Nazareth senior midfielder Alyssa Johnston (Farmington, N.Y.) re-tied the game, was part of a three-goal run for the Gulls that included Kelly Tierney (S. Hadley, Mass.) and Lauren Todd (Newfields, N.H.).

Tierney and Todd each scored twice for the Gulls, while senior Holly Davis (Guilford, Conn.) also scored twice and collected a game-high six draw controls.

Nazareth junior Amy McIntosh (Horseheads, N.Y.) broke the Endicott streak with two quick goals to pull the hosts back within a goal, but Todd and Murphy restored Endicott's lead to three with ten minutes remaining.

McIntosh scored three teams for Nazareth, as did sophomore Briana Mancini (Liverpool, N.Y.), who converted a free-position shot with a minute and a half to play. Freshman Carly Gates (Vestal, N.Y.) was able to find the net at the very last second, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Gulls from hanging on for the victory.

The first half was a back and forth affair, though the Gulls more often than not had their noses in front. The home team scored the opening goal of the game through Mancini, but did not lead again until Johnston made it 5-4 at 9:30 of the first half.

Freshman Isabelle Sipperly (Greenwich, N.Y.) got the Gulls started, tying the game less than a minute after Mancini had opened the scoring. Sophomore Kirsten Thor (Longmeadow, Mass.) also cashed in early in the game, as did Caitlin Pratt (Bow, N.H.).

The Golden Flyers held a 25-22 advantage in shots, and grabbed 20 ground balls to Endicott's 15.

Junior Rachel Socolow (Westford, Mass.) made 11 saves in the cage for the Gulls, while her counterpart,

Tara Prosak (Jamesville, N.Y.), made five saves in split time in net for Nazareth.

Endicott junior Kelsey Barnes (Mendham, N.J.) caused three turnovers, while Johnston paced the hosts in causing four miscues.

The Gulls continue their spring break road trip on Sunday afternoon when they go down the road to play Rochester Institute of Technology. That game is set to start at 3:00 pm.

Nazareth will turn around tomorrow for another home game at 5:00 pm, this time against Fredonia State.