DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team traveled to UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday night for an out of conference matchup. Junior Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) scored the lone goal for the Gulls as they fall to the Corsairs 7-1. The Gulls now stand at 2-2 while Dartmouth records their first win of the season standing at 1-2.
The Corsairs came out of the gates firing, keeping the Gulls defense on edge forcing 10 offensive corners. The Gulls worked to get into transition but Dartmouth did a good job at stopping the ball high and pushing offensive pressure. The first goal of the game came at 1:39 as senior Tori Dolce (Jamestown, R.I.) took the opportunity off an offensive corner and banked it into the ride side of the cage to sneak it passed senior goalkeeper Lizetta Solarik (Carmel, N.Y.). 13 minutes later sophomore Emily Anderson (Medway, Mass.) blasted a ball from the 25 that was touched by the Endicott defense in the circle which resulted in an own goal for the Gulls.
10 minutes into the first frame Endicott had a great opportunity to get on the board off an offensive corner that soared just wide. The Corsairs had a strong midfield that kept forcing the ball down to the Gulls defense and making it difficult to transition offensively. Senior Eleanor Taylor (Fairhaven, Mass.) added another tally for Dartmouth at 25:39 as she was able to handle a pass from freshman Hunter Carden (Brandford, Conn.), from the stroke and find the right corner. Five minutes later sophomore Jill Levrault (Somerset, Mass.) scored the final goal of the half as Alison Ladue sent the ball across the cage and was deflected high into the left side of the cage.
Sophomore goalkeeper Rose Bradley (Pottsdown, Pa.) came in to relieve Solarik with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half. She made an incredible save in the final minute as two Dartmouth players came down the field for a two on one play that Bradley was able to step out and break up, to end the half.
The second half was a little brighter for the Gulls as they did a better job at anticipating Dartmouth's midfield and create some offensive pressure. The Corsairs were able to score in the first 20 seconds of the second half as Levrault was able to put it passed Bradley to move the lead to five. The sixth goal for the Corsairs came early in the second half as Taylor inserted the ball off an offensive corner to Campbell who was able to find senior Devon Herlihy (Stratham, N.H.) on the right post to make it a 6-0 game.
The Gulls finally got on the board as Sawchuck scored at 49:23 as she dribbled down the right end line and moved it past a Corsairs defender to find the back of the net. The Blue and Green had a great opportunity to cut the lead to four as juniors Kathryn Walker (Middlebury, Conn.) and Mackenzie Hurst (Gilford, N.H.) made a breakaway for goal as Hurst passed it off to Walker who tried to move it passed sophomore goalkeeper Liz Delaney (Foxboro, Mass.) but Delaney came out to slide tackle Walker to break up the play. The final goal for the Corsairs was not an easy one as they were blasting shots left and right at Solarik, who reentered to game, but she was all over the defensive line stopping everything that came her way. Eventually on the fourth try Katelin Morrissey handled a pass from Caroline Daubitz to sneak it passed Solarik.
The Corsairs offensive corners were well executed the entire game and forced a total of 19. Defenders Alyssa Clark (Gorham, Maine) and Emily O'Halloran (Cheshire, Conn.) worked hard on the defensive line each tallying a defensive save in their efforts on the defensive corners. Solarik played 43 minutes for the Gulls this evening and despite taking the loss she made an impressive 12 saves while recording some big plays between the pipes. Bradley tallied 26:41 minutes and made nine saves. Both goalkeepers were kept busy and had immense pressure from the Corsairs.
Despite the loss the Gulls were able to shake off their first half nerves and play better field hockey. UMass Dartmouth is one of the strongest teams the Blue and Green will face this season and will take the loss in hopes it will help them become better equipped for upcoming conference matchups.
The Blue and Green will hit the road this coming Saturday, September 14th for an out of conference contest with UMaine Farmington at 1:00 PM. The Corsairs will also look to Saturday for their first conference matchup against Framingham State.
