BEVERLY, Mass.- On an unseasonably warm mid-October night, the Endicott women's soccer team played host to UMass Boston in a tough non-conference match at Endicott Stadium. Both teams looked to play physical and quick early as the two teams would battle to a hard fought 0-0 tie after 110 minutes of play. With the draw, Endicott moves to 7-3-4 (3-1-1 CCC) while UMass Boston sees its record move to 6-3-4 (3-1-0 Little East). The Gulls return to action on Saturday when they play host to CCC foe Salve Regina when Endicott will honor their senior class before the 1:00 p.m. match. UMass Boston also returns to action on Saturday when they play host to Little East foe Keene State at 1:00 p.m.
The match got off to an extremely quick start with Endicott producing a quality scoring chance just 15 seconds in as LeeAnn Card (Paxton, Mass.) took a feed from Paige Marinelli (Burlington, Conn.) and found herself with possession within five yards of the keeper. The junior snapped a quick shot on goal that was stopped by UMass Boston keeper Dani Perkins (Murrieta, Calif.) to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
UMass Boston was able to counter quickly as a cross found Kara Peters (Feeding Hills, Mass.) on the right side of the box just a minute and a half into play. Peters put a shot towards net that sailed just over the bar as both teams continued to push the pressure early on.
Endicott nearly took the advantage again just three minutes in when Shelby McLenithan sent a one-timer just high of the cross bar. McLenithan's chance came after Rebecca Litwin (Westborough, Mass.) was stopped on low hard shot by Perkins. The save rebounded to McLenithan on the right side as her one-timer flew just over the cross bar.
Both teams would finish the half with five shots as two of Endicott's were on goal, forcing Perkins to make two saves. None of the UMass Boston shots would be on goal, allowing Endicott keeper Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) to not have to make a save. UMass Boston held a 5-2 advantage in fouls after 45 minutes of play as the physical theme would continue throughout the night.
The second half would be more of the same as the two teams would attack and then look to counter each other quickly. Marinelli and Jessica Joseph (Bedford, N.H.) would provide the majority of the offense for the Gulls in the second as the duo combined for five of the eight Endicott shots in the half. Marinelli recorded three shots while Joseph added two. Both of Joseph's shots were on goal, forcing Perkins to make saves on each, as the latter was a flicked on header from a cross that provided the best opportunity for the Gulls in the frame. The second half would end with the scoreboard still showing 0-0, setting up the first overtime period.
Endicott out-shot UMass 8-4 in the half, and put two shots on goal to just one for the Beacons. Both teams would be whistled for six fouls in the half while UMass held a 3-1 advantage in corners.
Endicott nearly ended the match in the sixth minute of the first overtime as Marinelli would find herself with possession on the left side of the box. The junior attempted a shot that was blocked, but she stayed with the rebound and laid it off perfectly for Taylor Geas (Somers, Conn.) who would rifle a shot towards goal that sailed just right of the post.
Both teams would fail to score in the first overtime, setting up a second extra 10 minutes of play that would end in the same result as each team added a tie to their 2014 record. In the overtime periods, UMass Boston held a 5-3 advantage in shots, forcing Donnelly to make three of her four saves, while Endicott didn't record a shot on goal.
For the match, Endicott held a slim advantage in shots by a 16-13 margin while each team put four shots on goal. Both squads would be whistled for 12 fouls while the Beacons would edge the Gulls in corners, 3-1.
With the draw, Endicott moves to 7-3-4 (3-1-1 CCC) while UMass Boston sees its record move to 6-3-4 (3-1-0 Little East). The Gulls return to action on Saturday when they play host to CCC foe Salve Regina when Endicott will honor their senior class before the 1:00 p.m. match. UMass Boston also returns to action on Saturday when they play host to Little East foe Keene State at 1:00 p.m.
