DELAWARE, Ohio - Ohio Wesleyan freshman midfielder Samantha Epling (Yellow Springs, Ohio) provided the day's only goal, and the Bishop defense made the lead stand in posting a non-conference win over Endicott College on Sunday at Roy Rike Field in Delaware, Ohio. The loss is the Gulls’ third-straight to open the season and their offense is still in search of their first goal.
Epling gave the Bishops an early lead, finding the back of the net with a 20-yard shot from the left side of the field in the 10th minute.
The Bishops had a good chance to take a 2-0 lead in the 12th minute when junior forward Erica Lowell (Bay Village, Ohio) fielded a through ball and was off on a breakaway, but Gull goalkeeper Nicole Lawlor (Mansfield, Mass.) came off her line and broke up the play before Lowell could get off a shot.
Lawlor kept the game close again later in the half, coming up with the loose ball after a corner kick by junior defender Victoria King (Westerville, Ohio) was deflected toward the goal.
Endicott's best chance to even the game came during the second half, after the Gulls had earned a corner kick. The ball went to sophomore forward Colleen Pepin (Fairhaven, Mass), whose header was cleared off the line by a Bishop defender.
King nearly gave the Bishops a 2-0 lead in the 71st minute, but her 25-yard blast from the right side hit the left post and was cleared.
Ohio Wesleyan outshot Endicott, 20-7. Junior Laura VanHoey (Rochester, Mich.) was not tested in the Bishop goal while completing the shutout. Lawlor finished with 9 saves for the Gulls. Endicott returns to New England for continued non-conference play against Wellesley on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
Release Courtesy of Ohio Wesleyan Sports Information
