Gulls Lift to a 12-11 Victory Over UNE; Whitney Leads with Five Points

BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Endicott women's lacrosse team traveled to the University of New England (UNE) on Wednesday afternoon for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup. Rallied by a comeback victory behind five points from sophomore Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.) the Gulls lifted to a 12-11 victory. Endicott improves to 7-4 (3-1 CCC) on the season while the Nor'easters fall to 5-7 (2-2 CCC).

Endicott will see the field next on Saturday, April 11^th as they host Nichols for their second to last home game of the season at noon. UNE will also see action next on Saturday as they host CCC foe Salve Regina for a 1:00 p.m. draw.

Along with the four goal and one assist effort from Whitney, senior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.), sophomore Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.) and freshman Erin McCarthy (Old Lyme, Conn.) each found the back of the net twice in the victory while seniors Kirsten Thor (Longmeadow, Mass.) and Katie Tierney (South Hadley, Mass.) each tallied one.

Defensively Clayman led with four groundballs while sophomore Maura Grady (Marblehead, Mass.) controlled the net for the Blue and Green recording 11 saves on 22 shots as she improves to 7-4 between the pipes on the season.

For the Nor'easters, seniors Gina Newsome (Danbury, Conn.), Hannah Warren (Harrison, Maine) and Nikki Smith (Shapleigh, Maine) all kept UNE in the game with their three goals apiece.

The first half was an absolute battle as both sides entered halftime at a 5-5 stalemate. Endicott started off the half as Emily Whitney found the back of the net off the first possession for the first tally of the game. The Nor'easters would quickly answer back by scoring four straight goals for the 4-1 advantage. Senior Rachel Schwaner (Holderness, N.H.) would start the scoring spree as Smith, Warren and senior Macki Hill (York Beach, Maine) would follow.

Thor would end the scoring lull for Endicott with her 10^th goal of the season for a 4-2 score. Newsome would counter back on a free position shot to kick the lead back up to three. However, the Blue and Green would pick up their game following with three straight goals from Lennon, McCarthy, and Clayman to end the half with a 5-5 score.

In the second half both sides continued to find the back of the net as the Gulls took a 7-6 advantage in the half. The Nor'easters would start off the second in the opening five minutes with back to back goals from Newsome and Warren to take a two-goal advantage.

The Gulls would respond with a pair of goal of their own from Whitney and Tierney to post the third tie of the game. UNE was eager to claim their first victory over the Gulls since 2003 by adding two more tallies on the scoreboard with help from Smith and Newsome.

Endicott would pick up their game as McCarthy took advantage of a man-up opportunity on a free position shot to get back within one with 15:55 remaining in the game. Lennon would follow by tying the game up for the fourth time before Clayman also took advantage of a man-up opportunity on a free-position shot to give Endicott their first lead since the opening goal.

Again, the Nor'easters would tie the game back up at 10 apiece but Whitney would quickly counter with back to back goals with the help of senior Siri Mason (Williamstown, Mass.) for the 12-10 score. UNE would add one more goal at the two minute mark but the Blue and Green played tight defense for the remainder of regulation to secure the 12-11 triumph.