Top-Seeded Women's Soccer Advances to CCC Semifinals

BEVERLY, Mass. - Behind six goals from four different players, the top-seeded Endicott women's soccer team defeated #8 Curry to advance to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinal round on Wednesday evening. The Gulls, now 13-4-1 on the season, will play host to cross-town rival #4 Gordon on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Endicott, the #1 seed in the tournament after posting an 8-0-1 record in CCC play during the regular season, saw two-goal efforts from Sharlotte Pernice (West Springfield, Mass.) and Mary Verneris (Hamden, Conn.), while Rachel Hanna (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Claire Shields (Latham, N.Y.) each scored once.

The first half saw Endicott jump out to a commanding 4-0 lead after out-shooting Curry 13-2. Shields got the Gulls on the board early, scoring her first of the season at the 6:02 mark off an assist from CCC Offensive Player of the Year Rachel Hanna. Endicott doubled their lead less than 10 minutes later when a Mary Verneris scored her 12th of the season off Marissa Carlson (Bristol, Conn.) second assist of the season. Just over a minute later, Pernice would score her sixth of the season in the 17th minute before scoring her seventh in the 24th minute to give Endicott the 4-0 lead at half.

Hanna would then help the Endicott offense pick up right where it left off, scoring her 15th of the season in the 60th minute of play. The Colonels would cut the lead to 5-1 in the 65th minute when Soleil Galagarza scored, before Verneris would counter with the 13th of the year to give Endicott a 6-1 cushion. One final tally by the visitors in the 72nd minute by Sarah McGrath would prove to be the final goal of the match at 6-2 in favor of Endicott.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Endicott is now 21-2 all-time against Curry, having won the last 13 straight matches between the two programs, as the Gulls out-shot the Colonels 23-12 on the match, including a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Gulls have advanced to the CCC Semifinals for the third straight season and will make an appearance in the semifinals for the 11th time in 12 seasons under head coach Jodi Kenyon. 
• Shelby Elwell (Litchfield, Conn.) was credited with the win to improve to 11-2-1 on the season, while Caroline Armbruster (Stowe, Vt.) came in and made two saves in relief.
• In the two matches against Curry this season, Verneris scored at least one goal while Hanna recorded at least one assist.

FOR THE FOES

• Curry keepers Kristen Buzzotta took the loss to fall to 7-8-1 on the season while Haley Rice came on in the 24th minute and made six saves.
• Isabella Shields led the Colonels with five total shots in the contest.

WHAT'S NEXT

#1 Endicott, now 13-4-1 (8-0-1) on the season, advances to host cross-town rival #4 Gordon on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. #8 Curry ends its season at 8-9-3 (1-6-2).