Gulls Fire Back from Three Goal Deficit in 10-8 Victory over Wellesley

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Endicott women's lacrosse team traveled to Wellesley on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference matchup. Behind five goals from sophomore Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.) the Gulls lifted to a 10-8 victory. Endicott improves to 5-3 (1-1 CCC) on the season while the Blue fall to 3-2 (0-1 NEWMAC).

Endicott will see the field next on Tuesday, March 31^st as they travel to Wentworth for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup at 4:00 p.m. The Blue will play next on Wednesday, April 1^st as they host NEWMAC opponent MIT for a 4:00 p.m. draw.

Overall Whitney led with five goals while senior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.) followed with two, while three other Gulls found the back of the net. The Blue and Green recorded 12 draw controls to the Blue's eight, led by an impressive eight total draw controls by sophomore Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.). For the Blue sophomore Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.), and senior Claire Canty (East Rockaway, N.Y.) kept Wellesley in the game with their three goals apiece.

Sophomore goalkeeper Maura Grady (Marblehead, Mass.) made four stops in the victory as she improves to 5-3 on the season while her counterpart, sophomore Wendy Nettleton (La Jolla, Calif.) made eight saves in the tough loss.

At the end of the first half the Blue and Green took the 5-4 lead, however the Blue opened up the game with three straight goals in the opening 11 minutes of play. Sharkin starting the scoring five minutes in with help from Canty for the 1-0 lead. The Blue scored another two straight from Canty and junior Chelsey Hooker (Cypress, Texas) to take the 3-0 lead by the 19:15 mark.

Endicott picked up their offensive game by answering back with three straight goals to tie up the score. Clayman started the scoring spree while Lennon and Whitney followed suit by the 16:02 mark.  Canty would total her second goal of the day to take the one goal advantage but Whitney and Clayman would each nail a free position opportunity to take the 5-4 edge heading into halftime.

The second half was a huge battle of possession as each side went goal for goal with the Blue and Green just outscoring Wellesley 5-4. Whitney opened up the half to take the two goal advantage but Sharkin would quickly counter to get the Blue back within one.

At the 22:22 mark senior Kirsten Thor (Longmeadow, Mass.) made a quick play to goal with sophomore Emily Cutting (Ferrisburgh, Vt.) to kick the lead back up to two. Whitney would follow suit wither her fourth goal of the game seven minutes later for the 8-5 lead.

Canty and Sharkin would each find the back of the net on a free position shot with freshman Jenny Gubner (Pleasanton, Calif.) scoring in the final seconds, but it was not enough as Cutting and Whitney each recorded an insurance goal in the final minutes of the half to secure the two goal victory with a 10-8 final.