Gulls Edge Corsairs in 3-2 Overtime Thriller; Allen Nets the Game Winner

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team hosted non-conference rivals, UMass. Dartmouth on Wednesday evening for a contest under the lights. After a tied game at the end of regulation, junior Ashleigh Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored 54 seconds into overtime to rally the game winner for a final 3-2 score. Endicott improves to 3-1 (0-0 CCC) while the Corsairs fall to 1-4 (0-0 MASCAC).

The Gulls will head into Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Saturday, September 13^th as they travel to Roger Williams for a 1:00 p.m. start. UMass. Dartmouth will see action next on Saturday as well, as they travel to conference opponent Framingham State.

The first half was a battle as both sides ripped nine shots each in the first 35 minutes of play, led by senior Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) who blasted six for the Gulls. In the opening seven minutes of play the Blue and Green got on the board early. Junior Morgan Bresnahan (South Burlington, Vt.) took the ball to goal and ripped a shot at sophomore goalkeeper, Elizabeth St. Germaine (Wareham, Mass.), who was able to make the stop. However, senior Mackenzie Hurst (Gilford, N.H.) was able to work her way in and grab the rebound and send the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

After continuous shots from both sides and keeping the goalkeepers busy, the Corsairs finally answered back at 17:27 as junior Emily Anderson (Medway, Mass.) was able to dish the ball to junior Jill Levrault (Somerset, Mass.) who forced sophomore goalkeeper, Checka Ventura (Lawrence, Mass.) off her angle to have a clear shot to goal.

Both sides worked to take the lead for the remainder of the half and with ten minutes to after leading the half in shots, Sawchuck finally capitalized as she went on a 50 yard break away down the field and forced St. Germaine off her angle to easily find the back of the net to take a 2-1 lead entering halftime.

The second half showed a strong Endicott team but the Corsairs were hungry to score as they outshot the Gulls 11-5 in the second 35 minutes of play. In the opening five minutes of the half, Levrault tallied her second goal of the game and fourth on the season after she marched into the Endicott circle and beat Ventura for the tie game at 2 apiece.

Both sides worked for the remainder of the second half peppering both goalkeepers with consecutive shots but neither side could capitalize. The Gulls took eight penalty corners to the Corsairs five in the half but just could not tally a goal despite numerous close chances.

With zero time left on the clock and the game again at a stalemate an overtime period was forced.

With seven versus seven lined up for the 15 minutes of overtime, the Gulls were hungry to end the game early forcing three quick shots. Finally on the second Endicott shot and 54 second into extra time, Allen picked the ball up off a rebound off St. Germaine and blasted the ball into the back of the net to tally the game winner and give the Blue and Green a 3-2 victory. The goal marked the third for Allen on the season and her second game winner.