BRISTOL, R.I.- After both sides struggled to find the net in the first half, #6 Endicott and #2 Coast Guard combined to tally three second-half goals as the Gulls fell to Coast Guard on the campus of host Roger Williams. The Gulls see their season come to an end with a 9-8-5 record as the Bears improve their record to 13-6-1 on the season. The #2 Bears take on the host and #1 seed Hawks of Roger Williams at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The first half was played to a 0-0 tie as senior Daniel Higgins (South Kingstown, R.I.) started in net and made two saves to keep the Bears off the scoreboard. Coast Guard was able to pressure Endicott early in the match as they were able to take 11 shots in the opening 45 minutes. Only two of the shots were on frame however as Higgins stood tall and proved to be up to the task. Endicott's defense was able to strengthen it's front and held the #2 team in the ECAC DIII New England tournament scoreless for the half. Alex Elia (Somers, Conn.) and CCC Rookie of the Year Jordan Daniel (Canton, Conn.) had the best offensive opportunities in the first half as both were able to put shots on frame and forced Coast Guard keeper Richie Burns (Long Beach, Calif.) to make a save to keep the Bears equal with the Gulls.
The second half was a different story as both teams scored within the opening 10 minutes to knot the score up at 1-1. Greg Kennerley (Weymouth, Mass.) was able to notch his fifth goal of the season as he put the Bears up 1-0 in the 52nd minute. The goal was unassisted as he beat new Endicott keeper Austin Peluso (Farmington, Conn.) to record his 14th point of the season.
Endicott was quick to answer as sophomore Connor Gibbs (Westborough, Mass.) took an Alex Elia pass from midfield in the 54th minute and headed it home past Burns to tie the score at 1-1. The goal was Gibbs' second of the season and the assist was Elia's fourth. The four assists ties Elia for the team lead with Jordan Daniel.
Just over a minute later Gibbs almost gave the Gulls the lead as he rifled a shot on frame. Bears forward John Tarzian (Garden City, N.Y.) was able to show his athletic ability as he was able to dive across and rob Gibbs of a sure goal as he registered the defensive save. That save would prove to be crucial as the next goal was the game winner.
The next 26 minutes would be scoreless as both teams kept the opposing keepers busy and forced them to make big saves in key situations. In the 80th minute, with the scored still stuck at 1-1, freshman Lukas Benedetto (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) beat Endicott keeper Austin Peluso for the game winner. The goal was Benedetto's first of the season. With time winding down, Endicott was able to register multiple shots on net as Abdulla Al Khalifa (Riffa, Bahrain) and Brett Longobucco (Torrington, Conn.) made Burns save shots in the 82nd and 89th minutes respectively. Burns, however, was able to hold on to give the Bears the 2-1 win over the Gulls.
Higgins and Peluso teamed up to register four saves for Endicott. Burns was able to make seven saves while earning the victory, his twelfth of the season.
The 9-8-5 overall record is the best the Gulls have had to end a season since the 2003 season. Endicott finished with a 9-6-4 record that season.
