BEVERLY, Mass. - With a two-goal effort from Mary Verneris (Hamden, Conn.) leading the way, the Endicott women's soccer team defeated Wentworth 2-1 to improve to 9-4-1 overall on the season and 6-0-1 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play.
In a matchup between two teams that met in last year's CCC Semifinal round, Endicott controlled play from the early parts of the match as Verneris netted her first of the match just under five minutes into play. The tally was her 10th of the season, double her previous career-best from the 2016 season of five goals.
The junior then scored again in the 37th minute to give her 11 on the season, one shy of team-leader Rachel Hanna (Chelmsford, Mass.). The midfielder received a pass on the right wing, and made a long run down the far side of the field before cutting in quickly towards the box. Verneris was able to snap a shot on goal, beating the Wentworth keeper to the lower right corner to give the Gulls the 2-0 lead just before half and eventually end the scoring for the opening 45 minutes.
The lone tally of the second half came from Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.), as she beat the Endicott keeper off a pass from Molly Donahue (Quincy, Mass.) late in the frame to cut the Endicott lead in half. With the setback, Wentworth fell to 4-10-1 overall and 2-4-1 in CCC play.
BEYOND THE BOX
- The Gulls are now 20-6-1 all-time against the Leopards after snapping a four match losing skid.
- Endicott keeper Shelby Elwell (Litchfield, Conn.) made three saves in the win, improving her record to 8-2-1.
- The two-goal performance was Verneris' third of the season, as she also accomplished the feat in the 6-0 win over Salem St., and 5-2 win over Gordon.
- Hanna led the team with four shots, three of which were on goal. Her assist on Verneris' first score was her fourth of the season, which leads the Gulls.
FOR THE FOES
- Richard led the Leopard with four shots, scoring on her lone shot on goal, while Madyson Reno (Superior, Calif.) finished with three shots.
- Keepers Micaela Robinson (Goshen, N.Y.) and Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.) teamed up to make 10 saves in the setback. Robinson started the match and played the first half, making seven saves on nine shots, while Fleming came in at half, making three saves, including one on a penalty kick.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Endicott women's soccer team travels to Biddeford, Maine to take on the University of New England in CCC action on Saturday at noon, before playing host to Eastern Connecticut State on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The Eastern Conn. St. match will serve as Endicott's Senior Day where they will honor their ten seniors. Wentworth will travel to Eastern Nazarene on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. start.
