WENHAM, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team traveled to cross-town rival Gordon on Wednesday night for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) semifinal match. The Gulls were the #3 seed entering the contest while the Fighting Scots earned the #2 seed. Junior Alyssa Clark (Gorham, Maine) scored the lone goal for Endicott but it was not enough as they took the 1-2 loss to finish their 2013 season.
The first half was a battle through the midfield as both sides took big shots. The Gulls managed to get six shots in the frame while the Scots took nine. In the opening minutes Gordon got on the board early after senior Brittany Hawkins (Hampstead, N.H.) controlled the ball off a scramble in front of the net and managed to slip it past senior goalkeeper Lizetta Solarik (Carmel, N.Y.).
At 17:12 the Scots had another big chance to make it a two goal game when junior Gayle Watson (Harare, Zimbabwe) ripped a shot at net that snuck past Solarik but senior Emily O'Halloran (Cheshire, Conn.) came in to save the play as she made the impressive defensive save.
Minutes later junior Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) had a great chance to tie up the game as she blasted a shot at net but senior Megan Wenig (Gilford, N.H.) was able to step in to make the defensive save and keep the Blue and Green off the board.
In the final minutes Gordon earned another tally after CCC Offensive Player of the Year Courtney Scott (Herndon, Pa.) came down the right side on the fast break opportunity and ripped a shot from the top of the circle and was able to catch Solarik off her angle and make it a two goal advantage.
The second half was controlled by the Fighting Scots as they outshot the Gulls 15-5, but Solarik was on fire between the pipes and shut down every Gordon opportunity that came her way. Five minutes into the frame junior Emily Sawchuck had a great opportunity as she created a fast break opportunity and challenged the Scots defense as she pushed into the offensive circle, she let a shot off but it just sailed wide.
In the 55th minute Gordon has five opportunities to get a tally on the board but Solarik and her defense shut them down as Solarik tallied two saves in the scramble. However there was a close call when Hawkins sent a shot towards the right corner but it slammed into the post. Less than two minutes later the Gulls came firing back after junior Mackenzie Hurst (Gilford, N.H.) created a great opportunity in the offensive 25 as she brought the ball in and saw Clark on the opposite post as she sent the ball across cage and Clark was able to get a stick on it for the tip in to make it a one goal game.
The Blue and Green saw their season on the line and pushed hard to find the back of the net forcing five corners in the last 10 minutes of play. At 59:45 Leary controlled the play off an offensive corner and sent to shot to goal but senior goalkeeper Anna Bury (Huntingtown, Md.) was able to make the save.
In the final 45 seconds of the game the Gulls were awarded a penalty corner and created a great play but just could not finish as they took the tough 1-2 loss. Solarik and her defensive unit were solid in the backfield as she had 12 saves, while seniors Robin Hunt (Hampton, N.H.) and O'Halloran each tallied a defensive save.
The Gulls finish their 2013 season at 9-11, (6-6 CCC).
