POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — The Endicott women's lacrosse team used a second half surge to propel them past Vassar, 14-12, in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Weinberg Turf Field.

Leah Black (Cheshire, Conn.), Emerson Clark (Gloucester, Mass.), and Kiana Napolitano (Revere, Mass.) all recorded hat-tricks in the victory.

Jaira Paine (Granby, Conn) tallied two goals while Abbie Belleville (Salem, Conn.), Bailey Sheehan (Pomfret, Conn.), and Mia Smith (Portsmouth, N.H.) each potted a goal.

In goal, Lydia Akins (Edina, Minn.) made 12 saves to improve her record to 3-4.

The Gulls trailed 7-5 at halftime but came out clicking on both ends of the field as they held Vassar scoreless. Clark got the scoring started in the second half from a feed by Paine and then Paine found Napolitano to tie the game at seven. Clark then put the Gulls up 8-7 thanks to a Napolitano feed as Paine gave Endicott a 9-7 lead heading to the fourth quarter. 

Defensively, the Gulls forced Vassar into six turnovers in the third qurter. With the game tied at seven, Akins made a key save on a free-poitision shot to keep knotted up.

Vassar would cut the lead to one 17 seconds into the fourth, but the Gulls went on a 3-0 scoring run over the next three minutes to lead 12-8 with 11:09 to play. Another Vassar goal was responded to thanks to a Paine free-position goal to re establish the Gulls four goal advantage. Napolitano added her third goal after another Brewer tally as Vassar added two more with just over two minutes to play as Endicott controlled poessession to end the game. Akins was key in the fourth quarter as she made four saves.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Today's matchup was the first meeting between the two schools.
• Napolitano now has three or more goals in four games this season.
• Third hat-trick of the season for Clark
• Maggie Holt (Cumberland Foreside, Maine) led the Gulls with six draw control wins.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (3-4) hosts No. 3 Tufts on Sunday, March 24 at 1 PM. Vassar (1-5) travels to take on St. Lawrence on Saturday, March 23 at 12:00 PM.

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(Photo Credit - Emma Purple '24)