Aug. 30, 2007
BEVERLY, MA - One of the most successful programs in Endicott College history looks to continue its winning ways in 2007 as the women's soccer team searches for an unprecedented fifth straight TCCC Championship.
The Gulls captured the 2006 conference title finishing the season with a 19-4-1 overall record en route to the NCAA Division III Tournament where they defeated Union College and Worcester State before eventually falling to NESCAC runners up Amherst College, 1-0. By winning their first two tournament games and capturing a sectional title the Blue and Green advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16" making school history by going deeper in the NCAA Tournament than any other program in Endicott history.
The 2007 Gulls begin play ranked as the number 22 in the country by d3kicks.com and will once again be led by two-time TCCC Player of the Year and All-New England selection Paula McGinn (Lynn, MA/Lynn Classical). McGinn enters her senior season coming off a phenomenal junior campaign in which she netted a conference best 24 goals in just 18 games, before missing the end of the season due to injury. A two-sport athlete McGinn returned to the softball field in the spring and she looks poised to return to form.
The team says farewell to second leading scorer and All-New England selection Caitlin D'Amario who scored 13 goals and dished out 7 assists in her senior season last fall. 2006 TCCC Coach of the Year Jodi Kenyon will look to sophomore midfielder Caitlin Flynn (Southold, NY/Mattituck) to pick up where she left off last season and help shoulder the offensive load. Flynn provided a spark off the bench scoring seven goals and adding 10 assists for 24 points in her rookie season. The speedy midfielder came up big in the absence of McGinn scoring four goals and adding an assist in the teams TCCC and NCAA Tournament games.
The Gulls consistent success can be attributed to their overall depth and strength in the midfield. Joining Flynn in the EC midfield in 2007 is senior Margreta Weber (Bedford, NH/Manchester West). Weber, a second team All-CCC selection, played a vital role in the '06 campaign controlling the flow of the game and creating transitional opportunities. Her keen ability to distribute and switch the point of attack allowed the Gulls offense to flourish.
The Gulls will once again be strong up front and throughout the midfield, but losing All-New England and All-CCC defender Staci Wiencko, defender Meghan Sneigoski and goalkeeper Tina Loguidice to graduation creates some questions on the defensive end. Junior Amy Meuse (Saugus, MA/Saugus) and sophomore Nicole Lawlor (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) who both saw limited time last season, will battle for the starting job in net.
Coach Kenyon will heavily rely on her veterans and returnees but will also count on a number of incoming freshmen including Karyn and Kayla Plante (Sanford, ME/Sanford), Ellie Fleischer (Huntington, VT/Mount Mansfield) and Eastern Mass. All Star Kayla Corbett (Danvers, MA/Danvers).
Endicott will play a host of challenging opponents including games at the Wellesley Invitational and a midseason clash with Williams College. The Blue and Green also welcome Western New England College to The Commonwealth Coast Conference and will host the Golden Bears in their home finale.
The Gulls open the season on September 5 in Norton, Mass. against 13th ranked Wheaton College in a much anticipated match up of top ranked New England teams.
