Posted: Oct 28, 2009
PAXTON, Mass. – The Endicott College men’s soccer team had their TCCC playoff dreams dashed at the hands of Anna Maria College as the AMCATS downed the Gulls, 2-1, in double overtime on Wednesday afternoon in Paxton, Mass. The AMCATS’ Robert Nickerson (Boylston, Mass.) scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals against the Gulls.
Both teams appeared evenly matched in the first period, as each club recorded five total shots including four on goal.
The Gulls broke through first on a goal by freshman \#Colin Doody\# (Wethersfield, Mass.) in the 33rd minute of play. Doody got behind the AMC defense and collected a beautiful 50-yard pass from junior \#Bryan Lee\# (Rockport, Mass.) before finding the back of the net to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead.
Endicott took the 1-0 lead into halftime while also holding a 6-1 advantage in corners. The Gulls were led by four shots and a goal from Doody, while Enco Lika (Worcester, Mass.) paced the AMCATS with three shots.
With time running out and the AMCATS still trailing by one, AMC freshman Robert Nickerson blasted a shot from 35 yards out and deposited it in the top shelf to tie the match, 1-1, with just six minutes remaining in regulation.
The match went into overtime with the score still knotted at one goal apiece. Through regulation, the Gulls held a 15-10 advantage in shots and an 11-4 edge in corner kicks.
The first overtime was uneventful, with neither team earning a scoring opportunity.
The AMCATS, however, came roaring out of the gates in the second overtime. Freshman Enco Lika nearly ended the match just three minutes into the fourth period when his free-kick barely sailed over the cross bar.
Anna Maria kept the pressure on and earned a corner kick in the 105th minute. Lika sent a nicely placed ball in front of the net where it was headed off the cross bar. Nickerson jumped for the rebound and headed into the goal for his second tally of the game, giving the AMCATS the thrilling 2-1 victory.
The Gulls wrap up their season at 7-10 overall and 6-7 in the TCCC while Anna Maria finishes the year at 10-8 overall and also at 6-7 in the conference.
Endicott ends its 2009 campaign by improving its record for the third straight season with the program’s seven wins, one more win than the 6-11-1 mark from a year ago. Unfortunately for the Gulls, it is the second straight season Endicott has been on the outside of the playoffs looking in, finishing one game out of the final playoff spot the past two years.
Release courtesy of Anna Maria College Sports Information
