BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Endicott field hockey team traveled to the University of New England on Wednesday night for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup. Senior Amanda Glynn (Hampton, N.H.) and junior Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) each tallied first half goals but they were not enough as UNE scored two goals in the final ten minutes to take the 3-2 win.
Both sides took control for spurts of the half, having big shots on goal. The Nor'easters outshot the Blue and Green 6-3 in the frame but both were even with shots on goal with three apiece. The Gulls earned the first goal in the contest at 8:09 when Sawchuck controlled the ball in the center of the circle and made a crisp sweep to find senior Glynn on the left post as she was able to slip it past freshman goalkeeper Holly Smith.
UNE answered back by taking their turn in controlling the field, at 14:36 junior Hannah Warren (Harrison, Maine) took advantage of a loose rebound after senior goalkeeper Lizetta Solarik made a save at the stroke mark and controlled the ball as she blasted it from the top of the circle to tie the game 1-1.
The Gulls worked hard in the in the midfield with strong efforts from junior Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) as she handled the ball through the 25's and created offensive opportunities. With 10 minutes remaining in the half senior Stacie Teevens (Westborough, Mass.) brought the ball down the right side and fed the ball to Sawchuck who ripped a shot from the stroke mark and found the back of the net to take the 2-1 lead to enter halftime.
The second half was similar to the first as it was a battle for both ends. The Nor'easters just outshot the Gulls 12-9 in the frame. Endicott fought tooth and nail to finish in the circle as they forced eight offensive corners. Midway through the game Leary had a great opportunity to get another tally for the Blue and Green after she ripped a shot from the top of the circle off a corner and the ball just sailed wide.
The Gulls did a good job at executing their corners but just could not find the backboard. In the final 15 minutes of play UNE came out firing taking seven shots on net and forcing six offensive corners. At 56:39 senior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) came down hard on Solarik forcing two big shots in a row but she was able to make the two impressive stops to keep the Gulls in the lead.
In the 62nd minute UNE finally found the back of the net after trying continuously to force pressure in dangerous Endicott territory. Senior Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, Maine) controlled the ball off a rebound and sent the ball up high to the left side of the apron and ripped a shot that passed Solarik to get the Nor'easters back in the game.
Five minutes later after the Nor'easters hammered the Endicott defense forcing Solarik to make three big stops, Tavella controlled the ball off a scramble in front of the net and found teammate Casey Clark who then saw an open shot and got the ball past Solarik take the lead with three minutes remaining in regulation.
The Gulls worked hard in the midfield to try and transition to the offensive circle but struggled to finish, as they clock hit zero giving UNE the late goal, 3-2 win. Solarik came out of the contest with eight saves while her counterpart Smith had three.
Endicott will look to Saturday as they host their last CCC contest in the regular season and celebrate Senior Day against Western New England at 1:00 p.m.
