Playoff Hero Hunt Carries EC to Title Game
Nov. 1, 2006
BEVERLY, MA - Erica Hunt (Colchester, VT/Colchester) scored in the 72nd minute to lift the Gulls to a 2-0 win over Curry College and send the Endicott College women's soccer team to its sixth consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference title game.
Hunt's goal came with just over 17 minutes to play in the game as Sarah Miller (Nashua, NH/Bishop Geurtin) launched a throw in deep into the Curry penalty area. Hunt then settled the ball, turned and lifted a shot over the outstretched arms of Colonel goalkeeper Danielle Denham (Framingham, MA).
The Gulls would add a second goal in the final minute of play when Caitlin Flynn (Mattituck, NY/Southold) tracked down a long ball from Staci Wiencko (Pembroke, MA/Notre Dame Academy) and crossed it to Caitlin D'Amario (East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow) for a picture perfect header. D'Amario's goal sealed the 2-0 victory for EC.
Hunt has emerged as the playoff hero for Endicott, scoring the game winning goal against Wentworth in the quarterfinals on Monday and doing the same in the semifinals against Curry on Wednesday.
Curry once again brought a physical game to Endicott Stadium as they looked to beat the Gulls on their home turf for the second time this year. EC responded with strong play up front from D'Amario, Flynn and Shannon Pilsbury (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) as well as sturdy defense from Wiencko, Kellie Lajoie (York, ME/York) and Kelly Cosgrove (Sandwich, MA/Sandwich).
The Gulls got a big boost from the toughness of Miller and Margreta Weber (Bedford, NH/Manchester West) in the middle of the field. Ashley Clark (West Newbury, MA/Pentucket) and Kim Shields (Pomfret, CT/ Woodstock Academy) also played well for Endicott.
The Colonels ended EC's conference unbeaten streak with a 3-0 loss in October but the Gulls were able to match Curry's physical play and use their speed and skill to get redemption in the form of 2-0 win and another trip to the CCC Championship game.
With the win EC improves to 17-3 overall and will host the title game on Saturday afternoon. The Gulls will play hosts to Roger Williams University, who beat Gordon 1-0 Wednesday, as they look for their fourth straight CCC Title and NCAA Tournament berth. Fans are encouraged to check ecgulls.com for the start time of that game.