NCAA TOURNAMENT INTERACTIVE BRACKET | PRINTABLE BRACKET | OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM [Endicott on Page 14]
BEVERLY, Mass. — As the Commonwealth Coast Conference's (CCC) automatic bid winner, the Endicott Gulls (14-4) will take on Farmingdale St. (17-1) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. in Ewing, N.J. on the campus of No. 1 nationally-ranked The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).
NCAA FIRST ROUND: ENDICOTT vs. FARMINGDALE ST.
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1:00 PM | LIONS STADIUM | EWING, N.J.
TICKETS: $6 ADULTS, $3 SENIORS/STUDENTS (w/ ID), $2 CHILDREN (12 & UNDER)
LIVE STATS | VIDEO | NCAA TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
THE MATCHUP: The Gulls (14-4 overall) and Rams (17-1) are meeting for the first time in program history.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: The Gulls are making the program's 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since a 19-7 loss to No. 9 Middlebury in the NCAA Second Round on May 10, 2014 when the current senior class were freshmen. The Gulls won nine straight conference championships from 2006-2014 and celebrated the program's 10th conference title this season and first under third-year head coach Morgan Maciewicz.
ENDICOTT(14-4, 8-0 CCC) | STATISTICS | SCHEDULE
The Gulls defeated Roger Williams, 14-3, in the CCC title game on Saturday, May 6th to claim the conference crown as Endicott went a perfect 10-0 against conference foes this season. Endicott also received three major awards when the All-Conference honors came out earlier this season, with CCC Defensive Player of the Year Bella Rino (Northborough, Mass.) making headlines in goal. Rino boasts the top save percentage in the country (61.6 percent) and is currently ranked fifth in the nation in goals against average (5.51) for goalkeepers who have played in at least 60 percent of the team's minutes. Freshman attack/midfielder Jennifer Lacroix (Wrentham, Mass.), a five-time CCC Rookie of the Week, was honored as the CCC Rookie of the Year, alongside Coach Maciewicz's first CCC Coach of the Year selection. Senior attack Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.), senior midfielder Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.), and senior defender Chelsea Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) rounded out the Gulls' five First Team selections, to go with three All-CCC Second Teamers: junior midfielder Olivia Larson (Cheshire, Conn.), sophomore midfielder Ali Campbell (Lakeville, Mass.), and sophomore defender Talia Dellatto (Andover, Mass.). Additionally, Lennon is Endicott's points (82), goals (49), and assists leader (33) this season. She needs just three more goals to reach the coveted 100 career goals milestone. As a team, the Gulls rank ninth overall in the nation in assists per game (8.00) this year and are coached by Maciewicz and her two new assistants this season, Caitlin Cataldo and Jennifer Fox.
FARMINGDALE ST. (17-1, 8-0 Skyline Conference) | STATISTICS | SCHEDULE
The Rams also earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 16-5 victory over St. Joseph's (L.I.) in the Skyline Conference Championship game on Saturday, May 6th to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since an 18-7 loss to Salisbury in the First Round on May 10, 2014. Like Endicott, the Rams were also undefeated in conference play this season. Farmingdale St. enters the field ranked ninth in the nation for scoring offense with 15.94 goals per game. Senior attack Janisha Sanchez (Brentwood, N.Y.) leads the country with 67 assists, while also ranking first on the team in points (86). Senior midfielder Brittany Rosino (North Babylon, N.Y.) paces the squad with 50 goals, 94 draw controls, and 32 caused turnovers. The Rams are coached by fifth-year head coach Erin Calkins. She is assisted by Erin Collins and Sara Rivadeneyra.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: Saturday's winning team will go on to play the top-ranked TCNJ Lions in the NCAA's Second Round on Sunday, May 14 at Lions Stadium at 1:00 p.m. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - Mike Conners)
