Gulls Blank New England College For Fifth Shutout Victory, 5-0

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's soccer team blanked the visiting New England College Pilgrims, 5-0, Tuesday night at Hempstead Stadium in non-conference action.

Junior forward Rachel Hanna (Chelmsford, Mass.) struck first for Endicott in the 13th minute as she tapped in a free kick from freshman back Larissa Cade (Middlefield, Conn.).

Sophomore midfielder Mary Verneris (Hamden, Conn.) knocked in her second goal of the season off a free kick from junior back Marissa Carlson (Bristol, Conn.) to put the Gulls up 2-0 in the 22nd minute.

Freshman forward Catherine Elkas (Holden, Mass.) sent a through ball down the left side of the field that sophomore midfielder Lexi Burgess (Hebron, Conn.) deposited into the back corner of the net on the breakaway for her first goal of the season in the 39th minute to close out the first half with the Gulls leading, 3-0.

Endicott tacked on another score when freshman forward Hannah Pesci (Windham, N.H.) found the back of the net for the fourth time this season in the 46th minute from junior back Paige Pratt (Topsfield, Mass.) and sophomore Sharlotte Pernice (West Springfield, Mass.) tallied her fifth goal (unassisted) in the 65th minute to round out the scoring for the Gulls.

The Gulls improved to 5-1-0 at home this season and recorded their fifth shutout of the year.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Hanna leads the team with six goals so far this season.
• Cade picked up her fourth assist (tied for team lead).
• Carlson, Pratt, and Elkas tallied their first, second, and third assists, respectively.
• Junior goalkeeper Caroline Armbruster (Stowe, Vt.) made two saves on the night as she improved to 7-1-0 in net before giving way to junior Kristin Hartlage (Niskayuna, N.Y.) to begin the second half for a split-match shutout.
• Endicott is now 18-0 all-time against New England College, as the Gulls won, 5-1, in the most recent meeting before tonight on 10/27/2010 in Beverly, Mass. when the Pilgrims were still a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

FOR THE FOES

• The Pilgrims' four-match win streak was snapped tonight.
• Five of NEC's six wins so far this season have been by shutout, outscoring opponents 17-0 in blank sheet action before tonight, but tonight was just the second time the Pilgrims have been kept off the board.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Pugliese (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) fell to 3-1 on the season in net.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (7-1-1, 2-1-0 CCC) travels to Dudley, Mass. on Friday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. to take on host Nichols in CCC play.

New England College (6-3, 2-0 NAC) plays host to Colby Sawyer on Saturday, October 1 at 2:30 p.m. in NAC action. 

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