Sept. 2, 2007
BABSON PARK, MA - Senior Jennifer Rheaume (Blackstone, MA/Blackstone-Millville Regioinal) scored the game's only goal early in the first half and junior goalie Chelsea DeFeo (York, ME/York) made 13 saves in net as the visiting Endicott College Gulls held on for a 1-0 victory over host Babson College in a non-conference field hockey game on Sunday afternoon. It was the first game of the year for the Gulls (1-0), while Babson fell to 0-2.
Endicott tallied the only goal of the day on a penalty corner just under six minutes in, as Rheaume redirected a drive from junior Jennifer Beech (Devonshire, Bermuda/Saltas Grammar) just inside the right post with 29:11 left in the half. Babson would outshoot the Gulls for the remainder of the period, but DeFeo played brilliantly in goal, stopping seven shots in the half to help her team take a 1-0 advantage into the break.
Babson continued to pour on the offensive pressure in the second stanza, but DeFeo once again held the Beavers at bay, turning away six more shots to give her 13 saves on the afternoon. Among her second-half stops was an outstanding kick save on a rocket by junior Nicole Cemelli (Towaco, NJ/Montville) from the left corner with 16 minutes remaining, as well as a clutch save on a penalty corner drive by senior tri-captain Michele Farley (Skowhegan, ME/Skowhegan) with 6:33 left to play. Babson's best chances came during a flurry with under just three minutes to go, but DeFeo turned away back-to-back shot attempts by senior tri-captain Brittany Stevens (Dudley, ME/Shepherd Hill Regional) and first-year Sarah Fredlund (New Preston, CT/Shepaug Valley) to preserve the lead and the victory.
The victory marks the first-career head coaching win for the Gulls Jodi Cipolla. Endicott returns to action on Saturday, September 8th as they host Wheaton College at 1:00 PM in Beverly, MA. The last time these two teams met, Endicott defeated the Lyons to win the 2006 ECAC Championship.
