NORTHAMPTON, Mass.- Behind goals from Laura Wysocki (Somers, Conn.) and Madison McKinley (Shrewsbury, Mass.), the Endicott women's soccer team took down Smith in a non-conference contest on Wednesday night. With the win, the Gulls improve to 2-1-1 on the season while the Pioneers suffer their first setback of the campaign to fall to 1-1-1. Endicott returns to action on Saturday at home as they kick off their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) slate with a match against UNE at 4:00 p.m. Smith is off for the next week until they play host to Elms on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
The first half would prove to be a defensive battle as both squads failed to find the back of the net. The Gulls were able to produce the majority of the pressure in the half however as they were able to record 10 shots, five of which were on goal while the Pioneers recorded six, only one of which was on frame. Endicott also possessed the advantage in corners, attempting three to just one for the home team.
Endicott made it a point to increase their shots and scoring chances in the second half and the strategy would prove fruitful as the Gulls would score twice in the second half just eight and a half minutes apart from each other. The first would come in the 61st minute off the foot of Wysocki, who netted her second goal of the season, off of a short rebound. The two points from the CCC Player of the Week gives her five in the last three matches as she has now recorded at least one point in each contest.
Just eight minutes later, the Gulls would extend their lead to two as Madison McKinley would net her first goal of the season and third of her career in the 69th minute. McKinley took a beautiful give and go pass from Shelby McLenithan (Bennington, Vt.) and buried her attempt to give Endicott the 2-0 lead with 20 minutes left in the match. For McLenithan, it was her first assist of the season.
Endicott and keeper Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) would nearly record their second consecutive shutout but came up just short as Smith got on the board in the 88th minute. Sophomore Maya McCann (Springfield, Mass.) notched her first of the year to break up the shutout and give the Pioneers their lone tally in the match.
The Gulls would statistically hold the edge in nearly every category as they held the edge in shots 25-12, corners 4-0 and fouls 17-4. Donnelly would make five saves on the evening, compared to 15 for her counterpart, Shelby Hall (West Springfield, Mass.).
With the win, the Gulls improve to 2-1-1 on the season while the Pioneers suffer their first setback of the campaign to fall to 1-1-1. Endicott returns to action on Saturday at home as they kick off their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) slate with a match against UNE at 4:00 p.m. In last season's matchup, the Gulls defeated the Nor'Easters 8-1 in Biddeford, Maine. Smith is off for the next week until they play host to Elms on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
