BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Endicott women's soccer team remained unbeaten on Monday, earning a tough 2-2 draw in non-conference action against Babson. The Gulls are now off until Saturday when they travel to Eastern Nazarene to kick off Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play.
Babson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute as Kelsey Ford (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) netted an unassisted goal, beating Endicott keeper Shelby Elwell (Litchfield, Conn.) to the near post at the 16:14 mark.
The Gulls would then post back-to-back goals just 2:28 apart midway through the second to claim a 2-1 lead. Senior Case Mellen (Litchfield, N.H.) scored the first for the visitors, and second of the season, at the 20:03 mark as she went to the upper right corner off of a turnover in the Babson end.
Delaney Caggiano (Bristol, Conn.) would then put the Gulls ahead 22:31 into the half as she tipped in a rebound off of a header from Catherine Elkas (Holden, Mass.).
Babson's Jessica Hernandes (Pawtucket, R.I.) claimed the tying goal in the 80th minute, striking a through ball from Ford that tucked just inside the left post.
The two teams would buckle down defensively the rest of the way as the score would remain 2-2 heading into overtime. Elwell would come up huge for the Gulls, making multiple point-black stops and diving attempts to keep the Beavers off the scoreboard and preserve the 2-2 draw against the NEWMAC foe.
BEYOND THE BOX
- The start was the first of Elwell's career as she posted a career-high nine saves on 11 shots on goal.
- Elkas' assist on Caggiano's goal marked her first career assist as she now has a point in each of her last two matches, scoring a goal previously against Keene St.
- Consistent with the theme of firsts, Caggiano's goal was the first of her career, as it came in her eighth career match.
- For Mellen, the goal was her second of the season which leads the team, and it was her fifth point of the season, which is also good for the team lead.
- Endicott is now 4-4-1 all-time against Babson.
FOR THE FOES
- Ford's multi-point match represented her ninth career goal and sixth career assist.
- The Beavers used two goalies in the match, as Elizabeth Mycock (Windham, Maine) played the first half, allowing two goals on three shots, before being relieved by Maddison Gierschick (Hopkinton, Mass.) at half.
- Babson's defense held Endicott to just four shots combined over the second half and two overtime periods combined.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (2-0-1) is off until Saturday when they travel to CCC foe Eastern Nazarene to kick off conference play at noon, while Babson returns to action Wednesday when they travel to Bowdoin for a 4:30pm start.
