BEVERLY, Mass.- Heading into the Commonwealth Coast Championship (CCC) women's soccer match, all signs signaled that this would be a match for the ages. Cross-town rivals? Check. Packed stadium with energetic fans from both fan bases? Check. A number one seed that had eked out two overtime victories to advance to the finals and a number three seed that had already pulled one upset and was hungry for another? This match had both of those as well. The championship match had all the drama one could imagine and lived up to its billing from the opening whistle as Endicott clinched its first CCC title since 2009 in perfect fashion, edging Gordon by a 3-1 advantage in penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie through all regulation and overtime periods.
"I am so proud of how far this team has come from a 0-3-1 start. They found a way to win no matter what, came together as a team, and were always able to grind it out," said an elated CCC Coach of the Year Coach Kenyon after the match. "I can't single out anyone today, from starters to subs, it was an all-out team effort. Matches like today speak volumes to the character and quality of players in our program."
Both teams showed up to the field on Saturday battle tested and ready for a contest of any length. Endicott entered the championship match having defeated eighth seeded Curry 2-1 in overtime and fifth seeded Wentworth 1-0 in overtime. The third seeded Fighting Scots from Gordon entered the match having knocked off sixth seeded Eastern Nazarene 2-1 in overtime and the seconded seed Roger Williams 2-2, with a penalty kick advantage of 3-1.
The first half would see Endicott dominate offensively statistically, posting 19 shots to Gordon's three. Of those 19 shots however, just three were on frame for the Gulls as they made Gordon keeper McKenzie Dion (North Grafton, Mass.) make three saves. Endicott keeper Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) saved the two shots she faced in the first half as well as both teams were unable to scores and ended the half knotted at 0-0.
The physical affair saw Gordon be whistled for four fouls to Endicott's one while both teams received one corner kick each. The Gulls had the best scoring chance of the first half as Jessica Joseph (Bedford, N.H.) took a shot moving from right to left of the goal that would ricochet off the left post and out. Both defenses played superb team defense and played a large part in keeping the opposition off the board. Gordon's defensive line was able to help out their goalie in the first half as the group combined to block six Endicott shots, the majority of which came from inside the box.
The second half would see both teams refuse to change their approach and the score would reflect as much. Endicott's long runs would seemingly be thwarted by blocks and a Gordon unit that knew it had to keep the score low to have a chance. The Scots would again block six shots in the second half as the Gulls would continue to dominate possession and offensive opportunities. Endicott posted another 15 shots in the half while limiting Gordon to three again. Of Endicott's 15 attempts, five were on goal and were saved by Dion while Gordon again put two on goal making Donnelly save both. The best play of regulation came at the 57 minute mark as Joseph again almost put the Gulls on top. The freshman was able to gain possession deep in the Gordon box and take a shot that saw a Fighting Scot defender leap into the air just a foot off the goal line, chest it down and clear it to keep the score tied at 0-0.
The two squads would again find all scoring attempts unsuccessful and would close regulation tied at 0-0. Endicott closed regulation with a 37-7 advantage in shots while Gordon held the three to two edge in corners. Dion was forced to make eight saves in regulation while Donnelly made four of her own as both keepers refused to let the opposition gain any momentum. The chippy affair saw regulation close and Gordon holding a 12 to six advantage in fouls.
The two overtime periods would come and go quickly without too much action happening in the first 15 minutes. The Gulls registered the only shot in the first overtime period which Dion saved. Neither team received a corner in the first overtime while both teams committed a single foul. The Endicott offense struggled to break through and would be held quiet for most of the second overtime as well until Paige Marinelli (Burlington, Conn.) had arguably the best chance of all in the match. In the 106th minute, the sophomore forward used her strength and speed to get open inside the box and received a beautiful feed from the right flank. Immediately, she snapped a rocket on goal that had Dion beat. Gordon's defense, never shining brighter, again found themselves in perfect position to thwart the Gulls attack. Marinelli's shot was legitimately stopped inches from crossing the line and immediately cleared to preserve the tie and send this match into penalty kicks.
The Gulls who had yet to be in a penalty kick situation in 2013, would defer and force Gordon to kick first. The Fighting Scots, coming off of a penalty kick win in the semifinals, would send Kendra Woudenberg (Whitinsville, Mass.) to the dot first to open the attempts. Her first shot grazed just right of the right post and out for a miss while Heather Moody (Dunstable, Mass.) would make her first attempt for Endicott to give the home squad the early 1-0 advantage in the best-of-five scenario. Round two would see both teams convert on their attempts as Gordon's Hannah Midwinter (Barkhamsted, Conn.) and Endicott's Laura Wysocki (Somers, Conn.) would elevate the record to 2-1, Endicott. Round three would add to the drama as the Scots' Lauren Hayes (Wantage, N.J.) and Gulls' Ashley Mueskes (Georgetown, Mass.) would have their attempts thwarted by the opposing keepers, making the score 2-1 in favor of Endicott after three rounds. With the win a possibility if Donnelly kept Gordon from scoring and Endicott converted their attempt, the junior keeper held up her end of the bargain as she stuffed Kara Dry (Madison, Conn.) on a diving save. The Gulls sent CCC Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year Sarah Person (Holden, Mass.) to the line to clinch it. Person stepped up quickly and buried her attempt into the twine lifting Endicott to the 3-1 penalty kick advantage and with that, the CCC title.
Seniors Person, Allison Ferro (Shelton, Conn.), Moody, Lexi Dussi (Boxford, Mass.), Madison Missinne (Ridgefield, Conn.), Natalie Wyrsch (Dover, N.H.) and Nicole Fournier (Milford, Mass.) were able to close their CCC careers out in style as they collectively won the class' first CCC Championship in their four years in Beverly after coming so close in the previous three attempts. Endicott, now 15-5-2 officially, waits to find out their draw in the upcoming NCAA tournament as they claimed the automatic bid with the finish. Gordon, who now sits 16-4-2, will await to see if they receive an at-large bid.
