BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's ice hockey team hosted the University of New Hampshire over the weekend in their 2014-15 season opener. Despite the goals by freshman's Kaleigh Daniels (Essex, Vt.) and Chloe Castellano (Wilmington, Mass.) the Gulls fell in a tough 5-2 matchup. Endicott sits at 0-1 while they take the ice next on Friday, November 7th as they travel to Keene State for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Two days later the Gulls will host Saint Anselm's on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. start on their home ice at the Talbot Rink in Gloucester, Mass.
The first period was a battle as the Wildcats got on the board first in the opening minutes. Meghan Kebalko controlled a feed from Julia Hird to beat senior goaltender Taylor Witham (Cumberland, Maine) for the 1-0 lead.
The Blue and Green would not let the lead last for long as Daniels tied up the game six minutes later after making a play to goal with freshman's Caroline Robarge (Wilmington, Mass.) and Sara Ellis (Weymouth, Mass.) and finding the back of the net to halt the game at a stalemate entering the first intermission.
The second period was controlled by the Wildcats as they lifted to a 4-2 lead to end the period.
In the opening minutes of the third period Endicott cut the lead down to one after Castellano finished a play started by Ellis and freshman Gabby Wiggin (Lebanon, Maine) to beat the UNH goaltender and blast the puck into the back of the net.
UNH would answer back scoring two more late goals to secure the 5-2 victory. Despite the loss the Blue and Green looked good in their season opener with loads of new faces to mix with the successful returners from last winter. Endicott is eager to get the season rolling under the guidance of first-year head coach Andy McPhee.
