W. HARTFORD, Conn. – Two goals by first year players led Endicott to a 2-0 victory on Sunday afternoon as the Gulls ended their season by winning the program's first ECAC Division III women's soccer New England championship.
The Gulls, seeded third in the tournament, pulled off their second upset in a row by shutting out top-seeded host St. Joseph's of Connecticut. It was Endicott's fourth appearance in the tournament and second trip to the finals in program history.
Leeann Card (Paxton, Mass.) and Becca Gustine (East Hampton, Conn.), playing in her home state, each scored goals in the second half, while sophomore goalie Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) made six saves to record her eleventh shutout of the season.
Card headed in the game-winner in the 64th minute off of a corner kick taken by fellow freshman Paige Marinelli (Burlington, Conn.). It was Card's fifth goal of the season and her second of the game-winning variety.
Ten minutes later, Gustine added insurance for Endicott with her fourth tally of the year, a blast from the top of the box that beat St. Joseph's freshman goalie Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.).
"To win the first-ever ECAC championship in the program's history is certainly a feat for us, a great accomplishment," said Endicott head coach Jodi Kenyon. "It's a good way for seven seniors to go out who impacted the development of our program. My congratulations to [USJ coach] Chris [LeGates] and his team. It was a well-fought match and we're very pleased with the outcome."
Endicott outshot the Blue Jays 14-6 and won ten corner kick opportunities, while St. Joseph's did not have an attempt form the corner flag.
Neither team converted any of their attempts in the first half, with Donnelly making four stops for Endicott to keep the game scoreless.
Dodge made nine saves in the game for the home team, six of them coming after the break when Endicott outshot St. Joseph's 9-2.
Marinelli was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player after also tallying a goal and an assist in Endicott's semifinal win and an assist in their quarterfinal victory.
Endicott, who was making their third consecutive appearance in the ECAC tournament, finishes their season with a record of 14-5-4. The Blue Jays end a successful season with a 16-3-2 record.
