First Half Surge not enough as Gulls Fall to WNE

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's lacrosse team played host to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Western New England on Tuesday afternoon. Freshman Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.) tallied four goals in the contest but it was not enough as the Golden Bears outscored the Gulls 7-2 in the second half to take the 9-7 victory. Endicott falls to 11-3 (6-1 CCC) while the Golden Bears improve to 14-0 (6-0 CCC).

Prior to the start of the game the Endicott women's lacrosse program celebrated this year's seniors: Callie Murphy (Woburn, Mass.), Rachel Campos (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Kelsey Barnes (Mendham, N.J.), Ryan Socolow (Westford, Mass.) and Courtney Jennings (Hope Valley, R.I.), all five of these players have given so much to the Endicott women's lacrosse program and we wish them the best on their future endeavors.

The first half was controlled by the Blue and Green as they outscored WNE 5-2. Whitney started the scoring in the 21^st minute after she found the back of the net off a crisp pass from the Gulls leading playmaker, Murphy. Less than a minute later Whitney attacked again with her second goal of the game off an assist from junior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.) as the Gulls took an early 2-0 lead.

The Golden Bears finally answered back at 19:20 as senior Shelby Trebbe (Wilbraham, Mass.) slipped the ball past Socolow on a free position shot to make it a one goal game. After 10 scoreless minutes from both sides, junior Katie Tierney (South Hadley, Mass.) and Murphy made a nice combo play to goal giving Tierney her 14 goal of the season.

Campos tallied her 12^th goal of the season less than a minute later making it a 4-1 game with 8:34 left in the half. Western New England answered back with just under three minutes to go as sophomore Taylor Scialdone (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) received a feed from Trebbe and found the back of the net. To wrap up the half, Whitney posted her third goal of the game on a combo with Murphy to enter halftime on top 5-2.

In the second half the Golden Bears came out of the gates firing as they outscored the Gulls 7-2. In the half three different members of the WNE team posted two goals each: Trebbe, Scialdone and junior Jessica Scannapieco (Blue Bell, Pa.).

Western New England opened up the half with three straight goals. Scannapieco started the scoring in the opening minutes making it a two goal game off a feed junior Kaitlynn Stevens (Groton, Conn.). Scialdone followed suit at the 22 minute mark making it a one goal game. Trebbe then tied it up at five apiece with 17:07 left to go.

The Blue and Green finally answered back as Murphy posted a free position goal to take back the lead. Trebbe however fought back on a man-down situation and found the back of the net with help from Scannapieco which started a scoring spree for the Golden Bears as they posted four straight goals. Trebbe scored back to back goals followed by one from both Scannapieco and Scialdone to take the 9-6 lead with 6:34 remaining in the half.

Whitney and Murphy posted their third combo play on the afternoon in the sixth minute to get back within two but they could not capitalize on the final minutes awarding the Golden Bears with the victory.

Socolow played a tough game between the pipes making some key stops in both halves as the senior recorded eight saves and only allowing 1-3 free position shots to find the back of the net.

Endicott will see action next on Wednesday, April 23^rd as they travel to CCC opponent Curry to play their last game of the regular season at 4:00 p.m. Western New England will see the field next on Thursday, April 17^th as they host Lasell for a non-conference matchup at 4:00 p.m.