BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott women's lacrosse team hosted nationally ranked, non-conference foe, #17 Tufts on Wednesday evening. Freshman Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.) led the Gulls with four goals, while Endicott posted three straight goals in the final nine minutes, but it would not be enough at the Jumbos held on to the 15-10 victory. The Gulls fall to 10-2 (5-0 CCC) while Tufts improves to 7-4 (3-3 NESCAC).
The first half was a battle but controlled by the Jumbos as they doubled the Blue and Green in goals 10-5. Entering the second half the Gulls were fired up and split with their regional opponent with five goals apiece. Coming in behind the four goal effort from Whitney, junior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.) recorded three goals, two being in the final nine minutes of play while senior tri-captain Callie Murphy (Woburn, Mass.) earned three assists to go for 25 on the season , a team high, while leading on the draw for both sides with six.
For the Jumbos, freshman Caroline Kingsley (Newtown, Conn.) and sophomore Caroline Ross (Sewickley, Pa.) led with three goals each, while Ross also recorded three assists. All together eight different members scored goals on the evening.
In the first half the game was close early on. Junior Kali DiGate found the back of the net first for Tufts in the first 50 seconds of the game. Whitney answered back four minutes later with help from Murphy to make it a 1-1 game. Junior Lindsey Walker (Suffern, N.Y.) then hit back to back goals take a two goal lead.
Junior Katie Tierney (South Hadley, Mass.) kept the Gulls in check as she dropped the lead back down to one on an unassisted goal at the 15:10 mark. After a free position goal by Ross, Endicott scored their first straight goals on the night with a pair from Clayman and Whitney to make it a 5-4 game in the Jumbos favor.
The close score would fire up Tufts as they answered back with four straight goals in five minutes. Freshman Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.) tallied the last Gulls goal of the half while the Jumbos were able to slip one more past senior goalkeeper Ryan Socolow (Westford, Mass.) to take a 10-5 lead entering halftime.
The second half showed a stronger and more determined Endicott squad. After an opening goal by Tufts, Whitney hit back to back goals to keep the Blue and Green in close range. The Jumbos answered back by scoring another four straight goals to keep their distance.
Endicott worked to get back in the game with two straight goals by Clayman and a final goal by junior Kirsten Thor (Longmeadow, Mass.) but it was not enough as the Jumbos pulled out the victory.
Socolow played a stellar game between the pipes making key saves in both halves finishing the night with seven.
Endicott will take the field next on Saturday, April 12th as they travel to CCC opponent Salve Regina for a 4:30 p.m. start. Tufts will also see conference action on Saturday as they travel to Amherst for a 12:00 p.m. start.
