May 6, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Endicott College women's lacrosse team fell to host Williams College, 19-9, in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament on Wednesday afternoon in Williamstown, Mass. The Gulls end their season at 15-5 while Williams advances to Saturday's second round game against defending National Champion Hamilton College.
It was a team effort for the Ephs with their 19 goals coming from 12 different players and all healthy players participating in the contest. The Ephs took control of the game immediately, winning the first draw and bringing the ball down into settled attack. Junior Whitney Thayer broke through the Gulls' defense and capitalized on a pass from fellow junior Tina Nawrocki to score the first goal of the game at 25:19. The Ephs put three more points on the board before Endicott's leading scorer, Valerie Feldman (Albany, N.Y.), netted the Gulls' first goal at 18:05.
Williams scored six more goals in the next 15 minutes before Endicott's Feldman scored on a free position shot. However, senior Britt Spackman ended the half on a high for the Ephs when she scored an unassisted goal with 31 seconds to play in the frame. The Ephs ended the half with an 11-2 advantage.
Both teams had opportunities in settled attack at the beginning of the second half. Eph Tina Nawrocki netted a pass from her sister Julia at 25:19, and Williams tallied three more before Kate Colley (Wells, Maine) broke through the Eph defense at 16:25.
Senior Lizzie Burns and freshman Katie Ellis both scored for the Ephs before Endicott strung two goals together for the first time all game. The Ephs responded with three goals in three minutes to create a commanding 19-5 lead.
However, Endicott would not give up. The Blue and Green scored four goals in the last six minutes of the game, but it was not enough to overcome their deficit, falling to the Ephs, 19-9.
Molly Hamel (North Yarmouth, Maine) turned 10 aside for the Gulls, while Julia Schreiber made two saves and Kate Foley made one for the Ephs.
Feldman and Alex Pearce (Underhill, Vt.) led the Gulls in scoring with three goals apiece. Spackman had four goals for Williams, while Tina Nawrocki and Tracey Ferriter had two goals and two assists each and freshman Taylor Fleishhacker had one goal and three assists.
Williams will be traveling to Waterville, Maine on Saturday, May 9th to play NCAA defending champions Hamilton College at 2:30 p.m. in the round of sixteen.
