Gulls Fall to Roger Williams in Double OT

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Endicott men's soccer team traveled to Roger Williams on Saturday for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup.  Endicott played a lot of soccer during the evening forcing a double overtime match.  The Hawks scored a goal in the second overtime to lift over the Gulls 3-2. Senior Alex Jorge (Billerica, Mass.) scored the only goal of the night for the Blue and Green in the second half. Endicott now stands at .500 at 4-4, (1-1 CCC) and the Hawks move to 7-1, (1-1 CCC).

The Gulls came out strong in the first half forcing six shots. Sophomore Sebastian Rozo (Stamford, Conn.) had a great opportunity seven minutes into the frame as he fired a shot 10 yards outside the 18 but the ball just missed the crossbar and soared high. Nine minutes later Rozo sent a short pass to Jorge for the header that banked into the top right corner, but the goal was called back due to an offside call.

Rozo was hungry to score and kept pushing in the final third. In the 34^th minute he was hit as he was taking a shot on goal. His shot found the back of the net, but yet again another Gulls goal was called back as it was ruled that he had taken the shot after he was fouled.

The Hawks were also creating opportunities in the offensive end. With four minutes remaining in the frame freshman Dan Kelly (Miller Place, N.Y.) received the ball on the right side and took it down the field, he attempted to cross the ball to a teammate for the open shot but he was denied by senior Zach Mullane (Westfield, Mass.).  Due to strong efforts by both sides defensively the half ended in a stalemate at 0-0.

The second half was full of Gull energy as they took 13 shots and forced four corner kicks. Seven minutes into the frame the Blue and Green got on the board as Jorge took advantage of a loose ball in the box. Rozo sent in a corner kick that senior goalkeeper Jon Pelloso (Wilbraham, Mass.) punched out. The ball deflected off a defender and Jorge took the opportunity to blast a shot on goal take the lead.

The lead would not last for long as four minutes rolled by after the Gulls goal and senior Daniel Caruso (Tewksbury, Mass.) sent a ball to sophomore James Sheldon (Amherst, Mass.) along the left side of the field. Sheldon ripped a shot towards sophomore goalkeeper Austin Peluso (Farmington, Conn.) but he was unable to make the save and the Hawks took away Endicott's lead.

The goal did not discourage the Blue and Green and they were eager as ever to put another tally on the board. With 13 minutes to play in regulation junior Connor Gibbs (Westborough, Mass.) controlled a cross by Rozo and sent a shot at goal but the ball soared just over the net.

Endicott had one last opportunity in the frame with 37 seconds remaining when junior defender Jed Magnusson (Kingston, N.H.) moved up in the final third and sent a high pass to Gibbs through the middle who attempted to get the header off but the ball flew just high. The play ended up being the last chance for both sides in regulation as the game was forced into overtime.

Both teams came out firing in overtime having a few great opportunities. Four minutes into extra time Gibbs was looking for redemption from his previous shots and blasted a ball to net that ended up deflecting off a Hawks defender to keep it out of the net. The Hawks were denied by the Gulls strong defensive line on all possessions to keep the game tied and send it into a second overtime period.

As the second series of extra time began the first play ended up being the last. In the 101^st minute, Caruso booted a long shot from the right side and managed to hook it into the left corner of the net just beyond Peluso's reach to give the Hawks the win.

Peluso made an impressive eight saves while his counterpart Pelloso came out with five.

Endicott will look ahead to a non-conference matchup against Springfield at Endicott Stadium on Monday September 23^rd for a 4:30 PM start. The Hawks will head to Wheaton on Wednesday September 25^th.