MILTON, Mass. – The Endicott men's soccer team snuck past the host Curry College Colonels, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at Walter M. Katz Field in double overtime.
With the win, Endicott improved to 10-1-1 as the team sits atop the CCC at 5-0-0, while Curry fell to 10-4, 2-3 CCC.
As the first half got underway, it was pretty evenly-matched on the pitch until Endicott was awarded a corner kick. The ball got bounced around inside the 18-yard box before sophomore midfielder Conner Couchot (Mason, Ohio) one-timed it past the glove of Curry's junior goalkeeper Dan Johnson (Easton, Conn.) to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute that Endicott held onto through the half.
In the second half, junior goalkeeper Nick Weinstein (Trumbull, Conn.) was forced to come up with some big saves to hold off Curry. With just 3:23 left to play, sophomore midfielder Roy Butlin (Milton, Mass.) broke Weinstein's shutout streak to send the teams to overtime. Matt Cotnoir (Longmeadow, Mass.) took a corner kick that landed the ball inside the 18-yard box. The ball was bounced around between players until Butlin collected it and sent it over the head of Weinstein.
In overtime, the Gulls were able score on their only shot at the 7:23 minute mark. Senior midfielder Shintaroh Itoh (Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) tallied the game-winning goal for Endicott's tenth win of the season and fifth in the conference to keep the team undefeated for the ninth win in a row.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Gulls extended their win streak to nine matches, their second-longest streak in program history (10 straight wins in 1998.)
- Endicott had not allowed a goal in its last 822:19 of action until Butlin's blast in the 87th minute.
- Today's match was just the second time these two teams have squared off in overtime (both 2 OT) in the all-time series. (A 2-1 win for the Gulls at home against Curry on Oct. 13, 2010.)
- The Gulls are now 1-0-1 in extra time this season. (2 OT against No. 6/16 Calvin in the season opener.)
- Weinstein made a new career-high 11 stops in goal for the win.
- Couchot recorded his first goal of the season.
- Itoh registered his fourth goal of the season, (second game-winner) and tallied points in consecutive games for this fifth time this season.
FOR THE FOES
- Johnson made seven saves in net for the loss.
- Sophomore midfielder Roy Butlin (Milton, Mass.) scored his first goal of the season.
NOTES
- Today's match saw the Gulls improve to 15-3 against Curry all-time, dating back prior to the 2001 season.
- The Gulls have won the past five matches against the Colonels.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (10-1-1, 5-0 CCC) will host Williams College on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Hempstead Stadium.
Curry (10-4, 2-3 CCC) welcomes Bates College to Walter M. Katz Field on Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.