Wood's Late Goal Lifts No. 21 Endicott to Victory Over St. Joseph's (Me.), 2-1

STANDISH, Maine - Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Endicott women's soccer team scored two second half goals to edge out Saint Joseph's (Maine) 2-1 on the road on Wednesday night. The Gulls, who are ranked No. 21 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll, improved to 5-1-0 overall on the season.

Despite out-shooting the Monks 11-7 in the first half, the Gulls were on the wrong end of the scoreboard after the opening 45 minutes of play. As has been the case all season, the Endicott defensive unit proved to be strong in the second half, limiting the hosts to just three total shots, while the offense ignited, firing 13 shots, six of which were on goal. Two of those shots on goal found the back of the net, giving the Gulls the 2-1 win at the final whistle.

Scoring first for the Blue and Green was Alexandria Dostie (Essex Junction, Vt.), when she converted a Riley Rischitelli (North Brookfield, Mass.) pass in the 62nd minute to even the score at 1-1. 

Endicott would continue to pressure as time counted down, and it paid off in the waning moments when Erin Wood (Hanson, Mass.) scored her first collegiate goal with 3:07 remaining in play. Assisting on Wood's game-winner was Morgan Hubert (Southington, Conn.), as the 2-1 edge would hold until the end of play.

Keeper Jacqueline Ruggiero (Dedham, Mass.) made four saves in the victory, improving her record to 5-1-0 on the season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Both goals (Dostie & Wood), and assists (Rischitelli & Hubert) were the first of the season for each student-athlete.
• Ruggiero's five wins are a new personal-best for the senior as she is now 9-5-2 with 6 shutouts in her career.
• While being ranked 21st nationally in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll, the Gulls are also ranked second in the most recent regional poll.
• The Gulls are now 4-0 when scoring two or more goals in a match in 2022.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott will now direct focus to Saturday when the Gulls play host to the Fighting Scots of Gordon at 4:30 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)