BEVERLY, Mass.- Coming off of a 2012 season that set program records and saw numerous individual postseason honors, the Endicott College men's soccer team looks to improve upon those numbers and make a push for the program's first ever CCC title. The team's 9-8-5 overall record was the most wins in a season since 2005 and was the first season over .500 since 2002. After a loss in the CCC Quarterfinals, the team advanced to the ECAC tournament where they advanced to the semifinals for the first time in Endicott history. Following this performance, three Gulls earned all-conference honors which were capped by a Rookie of the Year award. The team also received the NSCAA Team Academic Award as well as placing three individual players on the Academic All-Conference team.
To help get the team ready for postseason play, head coach Joe Calabrese has assembled a tough non-conference schedule. Calabrese is entering his third season at the helm and carries with him a 17-17-8 overall record. The Gulls' season kicks off on Friday, August 30th when they play host to SUNY Purchase under the lights at the first ever Endicott Invitational. William Patterson takes on Thomas College in the other matchup with the losers of each match squaring off on Saturday afternoon with the championship match to follow. SUNY Purchase finished last season with a 6-8-1 record while William Patterson wrapped up their 2012 campaign with an 8-9-1 record and an appearance in the NJAC tournament. Thomas finished 2012 at 15-3-2 and an NCAA first round appearance after winning the NAC title. Endicott has never faced any of these opponents.
The Gulls then head up Route 3 as they travel to Nashua, N.H. to take on the Raiders of Rivier University. Endicott was able to take last year's decision in impressive fashion winning 8-0 to take a 3-1 advantage head to head all time. A weekend North Shore Cup matchup across the harbor in Salem, Mass. sees the Gulls take on the Viking of Salem State who were the runner-ups in the MASCAC last year. Endicott was able to squeak out a 1-0 win last year after having lost the previous eight matchups. A mid-week battle at home against Rhode Island College is followed by the squad's first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) match of the season as the Gulls host the Lions on Saturday, September 14. Endicott is 13-1-1 all-time against Eastern Nazarene with the lone tie coming after two overtimes last season. The very next day Endicott travels to Keene, N.H. to take on the Owls of Keene State. Keene lost in the Little East Semifinals last season and posted an 11-7-1 record on the campaign.
Following the Keene State tilt, the schedule takes a turn to be very CCC heavy with only three of the remaining eleven matches against non-conference opponents. Roger Williams (RWU), who knocked off the Gulls 0-1 last year in regular season play, hosts Endicott on the 21st of September. RWU has given Endicott trouble historically as the Gulls are 0-13-4 all-time against the Hawks although out of the last 13 contests, neither team has scored more than three goals. To start the next week, Endicott hosts the Pride of Springfield College. Springfield lost in 2012's NEWMAC Championship to MIT. Endicott fell 2-1 to the Pride in Springfield, Mass. last season.
Endicott wraps up the month of September by hosting Wentworth in a CCC matchup. The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw last season and split the two previous meetings. The Gulls kick off the month of October as they host their second Little East opponent of the season when the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth head to the Nest. UMD lost in the Little East Championship last season as Eastern Connecticut defeated them 3-1. Endicott is 0-9-1 all-time against the Corsairs with their most recent matchup, a 1-0 loss, having been in 2008. That following Saturday, October 5th, CCC rival Western New England heads to town for a 7:00 pm start that is part of Endicott's Homecoming weekend. Endicott and WNE played to a double overtime 1-1 draw in Springfield last year. Endicott's last regular season non-conference opponent comes to Beverly on October 9th as Saint Joseph's (Maine) and Endicott look to add another chapter to the series history. The Monks took down the Gulls 1-0 last season in Standish, Maine before losing in the GNAC Quarterfinals.
With nothing but CCC opponents left on the schedule, the Gulls season hinges on the month of October as the squad plays five CCC contests in a mere 13 days. Endicott starts this stretch by traveling to Newport, R.I. on Saturday, October 12 to take on the reigning CCC champs. Last season saw the Gulls reign victorious over the Seahawks as Endicott netted the match's lone goal four minutes into the second overtime period. Endicott has now won the last three meetings against Salve, all of which have been decided by one goal. The team will then have time to rest as their next game, which is against Curry, isn't until the following Saturday. Endicott will travel to Milton, Mass. for their matchup against the Colonels who will be looking to exact revenge as the Gulls protected home field advantage in winning 5-2 in Beverly last season.
The Bison of Nichols head to Beverly for the second to last home game for the Gulls on the 2013 regular season. 2012 saw Endicott score in the 79th minute to record a 2-1 win in Dudley, Mass. to escape with a CCC victory. A weekend trip to Biddeford, Maine to take on the University of New England Nor'Easters sees the Gulls looking to strike back after UNE knocked off Endicott 2-1 on Homecoming weekend in Beverly, Mass. The regular season finale pits cross-town rivals Endicott and Gordon against each other in Beverly, Mass. at 7:00 pm on the turf. With the lights bright and weather certain to be unpredictable, the Gulls and Fighting Scots will look to fight for not only CCC position but also for North Shore Cup bragging rights. After a 5-2 regular season loss in Wenham, Mass., Gordon crossed town lines to defeat Endicott 1-0 in CCC Quarterfinal action.
With this aggressive and challenging schedule, Calabrese is hoping that it will have the team prepared for a deep playoff push and the squad's first CCC title. Having shown steady improvement in each of the last two seasons since Calabrese has taken over the Gulls plan on vying for the CCC crown and with it, the automatic NCAA tourney bid.
