BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Endicott women's lacrosse team traveled to #7 Bowdoin on Saturday afternoon for their second nationally ranked opponent matchup of the season. Despite the three points from junior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.) and 18 saves by sophomore Maura Grady (Marblehead, Mass.) the Gulls fell in a tough 13-8 final. Endicott drops to 6-4 (2-1 CCC) while the Polar Bears improve to 8-2 (4-2 NESCAC).
Endicott will see the field next on Wednesday, April 8th as they travel to the University of New England for a 4:00 p.m. draw. The Polar Bears will host NESCAC foe Colby next on Tuesday, April 7th for a 7:00 p.m. start.
Overall the Blue and Green were led by a two goal and one assist effort from Clayman while sophomore Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.) and senior Siri Mason (Williamstown, Mass.) each followed with two goals. Defensively Grady pulled away with a career-high 18 saves in the tough loss. Clayman would also lead Endicott with two caused turnovers and three draw controls. For the Polar Bears, junior Lindsay Picard (New York, N.Y.) earned a game-high seven draw controls while junior Annie Glenn (Salt Lake, City, Utah) followed with four.
The first half was controlled by Bowdoin as they took the 6-2 edge heading into halftime. The nationally ranked opponent opened up the game with five straight goals on their senior day. Junior Mettley Growney (New Canaan, Conn.) found the back of the net three times in seven minutes to tally three of the five Polar Bear goals.
Endicott would break the scoring spree at 13:26 as Whitney made a solo play to goal to make it a 5-1 score. Sophomore Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.) would follow on a free position and man-up opportunity three minutes later to make it a three goal game. However, Growney would counter back with her fourth goal of the half to make it a 6-2 score heading into halftime.
The second half was a bigger battle as the Blue and Green picked up their game scoring six goals to the Polar Bears seven, including closing out the half with three straight goals.
Bowdoin opened up with half with back to back goals from Picard and junior Megan O'Connor (Concord, Mass.) to take the 8-2 lead. Mason would counter with her first point of the day as she found the back of the net on a free position shot for the 8-3 score. For the Polar Bears senior Clare McLaughlin (Warren, Vt.) would tally her long goal of the game before Whitney followed for her second of the day for the 9-4 score.
The Polar Bears would then go on a three goal run with goals from Picard, O'Connor and Glenn before freshman Erin McCarthy (Old Lyme, Conn.) would break the run on a free position shot. Bowdoin's Glenn would tally the final goal for the Polar Bears with 5:20 remaining in regulation for the 13-5 lead.
Endicott would tab three final goals, one from Mason and two back to back goals from Clayman in the remaining 3:53, but it would not be enough as the nationally ranked Polar Bears pulled away with the 13-8 edge.
