BIDDEFORD, Maine — The Endicott field hockey team dropped a close 2-1 contest, on the road to the University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Wednesday night at the Big Blue Turf.
With the loss, the Gulls slide to 7-8 overall, 5-3 in the CCC, while UNE moved to 10-5 overall and 7-1 in the CCC.
It didn't take long for the hosts to establish an edge, as freshman defender Kersey Boulay (Liberty, Maine) stepped up and buried a penalty stroke attempt into the left side after just 4:02 of action.
That margin held through halftime, until freshman defender Marge Gardiner (East Northport, N.Y.) doubled it (2-0) in the 42nd minute. A penalty corner play had numbers forward for UNE, and when the initial shot was kicked back up the middle by the Endicott's goalie, Gardiner pounced on the rebound and guided her first marker of the season inside the left post.
Endicott pulled closer in the 67th minute, though, as Morgan Bresnahan (South Burlington, Vt.) collected a loose ball on the left side and slipped a shot through a crowd into the net.
The Gulls nearly tied the game with six seconds remaining but a save by junior goalkeeper Holly Smith (Peabody, Mass.) on a late shot attempt by Bresnahan proved to be the difference in the win for the Nor'easters.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today's game saw the Gulls lose their fourth straight game at the hands of the Nor'easters, though Endicott still leads the all-time series, 11-10, dating back to the 2003 season.
- The last six straight games between these two teams have been decided by one goal.
- Bresnahan recorded her ninth goal of the season. (Second most on the team.)
- Senior goalkeeper Rose Bradley (Pottstown, Pa.) made eight stops for the Gulls, who were out-shot by a 14-10 margin and out-cornered 7-4.
FOR THE FOES
- Smith tallied six saves for UNE.
- Boulay netted her fourth marker of the season.
- Gardiner scored her first goal of the season.
- Senior defender Alyssa Kowal (Barre, Mass.) registered her third defensive save of the season.
NOTES
- The Gulls have lost the last seven of eight meetings between the two teams.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (7-8, 5-3 CCC) will travel to Bristol, R.I. to take on Roger Williams on Saturday, October 17 at 4:00 p.m.
UNE (10-5, 7-1 CCC) starts a four-game road swing on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) with a visit to Western New England University.
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