BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's lacrosse team hosted Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent, the University of New England on Thursday evening. CCC Rookie of the Week, Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.) tallied four goals and two assists in the 14-9 victory for the Blue and Green. Endicott improves to 6-1, (2-0 CCC) while the Nor'easters fall to 5-3, (0-1).
The first half was a battle as the Gulls just outscored UNE 9-7 with an impressive four goal effort from Lennon. Lennon started the scoring in the opening minutes as she was able to slip the ball past sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Kendall (Waltham, Mass.) but one minute later the Nor'easters answered right back as junior Rachel Schwaner (Holderness, N.H.) tied up the game. The CCC's leading scorer, Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) took the lone lead for UNE at the 27th minute of the first half.
The Blue and Green went on to score four straight goals with efforts from freshman Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.) who posted two, senior Callie Murphy (Woburn, Mass.) and junior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.) who each tallied one. Also helping on the plays were junior Siri Mason (Williamstown, Mass.) and Lennon who each came out with an assist as Endicott took a 5-2 lead at the 22:22 mark.
UNE answered back by scoring two straight goals to get back within one with tallies from Tavella and freshman Jocelyn Davee (Freeport, Maine). To wrap up the first half, Lennon posted three goals in 13 minutes while junior Katie Tierney (South Hadley, Mass.) earned her fourth goal of the season to help take a 9-7 edge over the Nor'easters entering halftime.
The second half was controlled more by the Blue and Green as they scored five goals the UNE's two which was led by Murphy who hit two goals in the half. Tavella started the scoring five minutes into the half to make it a one goal game off a free position shot. The Gulls would not drop their lead as they came back with three consecutive goals from junior Kirsten Thor (Longmeadow, Mass.) who took advantage of a defensive miscue followed by Whitney and Murphy who scored within 30 seconds of each other to make it a 12-8 score.
UNE's junior Macki Hill (York Beach, Maine) found the back of the net in the 7th minute but it was not enough as the Gulls were able to hit two more with hard work from Clayman and Murphy to take the 14-9 victory.
Senior goalkeeper Ryan Socolow (Westford, Mass.) was solid between the pipes earning 10 saves on the night while Kendall tallied 15.
Endicott will see action next on Saturday, March 29th at 11:30 a.m. when they travel to CCC opponent Nichols. UNE will also travel within the CCC as they face Salve Regina on the 29th for a 12:00 p.m. draw.
