Endicott and Wellesley Tie 1-1 After Double-Overtime Match

BEVERLY, Mass.- Endicott played host to Wellesley in NCAA Division III women's soccer action on Wednesday night and after 110 minutes of physical play, the two squads fought to a 1-1 draw.  With the tie, Endicott evens its record at 2-2-2 while Wellesley incurs their first tie of the season and moves their record to 5-1-1 on the season.  Both teams return to action on Saturday when Endicott travels to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) foe Nichols for an 11:00 a.m. start while Wellesley plays host to Emerson in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action with a 1:00 p.m. start time.

The first half would see both teams battle to a scoreless draw after a physical period in which each team committed five fouls.  Endicott would hold the edge in possession and with that, offensive opportunities as they would out-shoot Wellesley 9-4 in the first half.  The nine Endicott shots would result in six being on goal, causing Wellesley keeper Claire Cerda (Coral Gables, Fla.) to record six saves in the half.  The Endicott defense held up well in the first, limiting the Wellesley offense to just four shots, two of which were on goal, causing Endicott keeper Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) to make two saves.  Both squads would attempt one corner kick in the first.

The second half would cover all of the offensive action in the match as both teams would score.  The first goal came from the home team as Endicott gained control at 1-0 following a blue collar goal in the 56^th minute.  Junior Ashley Mueskes (Georgetown, Mass.) crossed a ball from the right sideline and to the top of the box where fellow junior LeeAnn Card (Paxton, Mass.) made a run onto the pass.  Card fired off a powerful strike that glanced off of a defender and changed direction to beat the diving Cerda. For Card, it was her first goal of the season while the assist was also Mueskes' first of the season.

Wellesley would be quick to answer as they were able to capitalize off of a deep run down the right side by Juliette Fry (Atlanta, Ga.) in the 61^st minute.  The junior was able to stretch the defense and find a cutting Abigail Hess (Claremont, Calif.) in the middle of the Endicott box.  Hess connected on a hard shot to the lower left corner that beat a diving Katie Donnelly to knot the score up at 1-1 with just over 28 minutes left in regulation.

The best scoring chance after the goals came from Endicott as sophomore Shelby McLenithan (Bennington, Vt.) as she nearly gave the Gulls the lead in the 77^th minute off of a beautiful through ball.  McLenithan ran onto the ball, juked the Wellesley keeper and in a tiny window, unleashed a shot that was just blocked by a Wellesley defender's diving attempt.

Both teams would play the remainder of the half scoreless and would prepare for overtime tied 1-1.  The second half was much more balanced offensively, with Endicott barely holding the edge in shots 7-6 and corners, 3-0.  Wellesley stepped up the physicality in the second half, drawing the edge in fouls, 5-3, and also in quality scoring chances, causing Donnelly to make three saves while Cerda made just one. 

In the two overtime periods, both squads would struggle to mount any serious threats as the Gulls kept the Blue from recording a shot in both 10 minute periods and Wellesley limited Endicott to just one in each period.  Wellesley would be awarded two corners in the second overtime but failed to convert off of either.

After 110 minutes of play, Endicott held the edge in shots (18-10) and corner kicks (5-3) while Wellesley held the edge in saves (7-5).  Both teams were whistled for 11 fouls throughout the match.  With the tie, Endicott evens its record at 2-2-2 while Wellesley incurs their first tie of the season and moves their record to 5-1-1 on the season.  Both teams return to action on Saturday when Endicott travels to CCC foe Nichols for an 11:00 a.m. start while Wellesley plays host to Emerson in NEWMAC action with a 1:00 p.m. start time.