Endicott advances to face Plattsburgh State in the Cardinal Classic finals

Box Score

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – An early second half goal by junior forward Christina Vellucci (Saugus, Mass.) proved to be the difference-maker in a 2-1 victory for the Gulls over the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the Cardinal Classic in Plattsburgh, New York on Saturday afternoon. 

The Blue and Green now move on to face Plattsburgh State in the finals of the two-day tournament as the Cardinals won over Nazareth College in penalty kicks. 

The Gulls saw senior captain Colleen Pepin (Fairhaven, Mass.) give her squad a one-goal advantage in the 27^th minute after teammate Heather Moody (Dunstable, Mass.) fired a shot off Oshkosh keeper Brittany Walder (Waukesha, Wisc.) that rebounded directly to Pepin.  Pepin collected the ball and finished past Walder for the game's first goal for her second goal in as many games.

Pepin's effort was part of a dominating first half effort by Endicott.  The Gulls outshot their opponents 8-0 in the first 45 minutes of the match. 

Exactly seven minutes into the second half, Vellucci delivered a shot that hit the inside of the post to the back of the net to put Endicott up 2-0.  The goal was Vellucci's second on the young season, assisted by Nicole Fournier (Milford, Mass.). 

Oshkosh cut the Endicott lead to one just over 17 minutes later at 69:08 after Nichole Strieker (Janesville, Wisc.) headed a ball off a corner kick from Megan White (Kimberly, Wisc.) past Endicott's Natalie Wyrsch (Dover, N.H.).  

The Gulls held on to their one-goal lead over the final 26 minutes of the game to advance into the finals of the Cardinal Classic. 

Endicott keeper, Natalie Wyrsch, made three saves between the posts for her second win of the season. 

The Gulls will play Plattsburgh State at 11:15 am on Sunday morning in the tournament's final match.