Gulls Advance to Semifinals for the First Time Since 2005 Following PK Thriller

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's soccer team hosted Salve Regina on Saturday afternoon for the 2014 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinals. Entering the match, Endicott claimed the #4 seed while the Seahawks traveled in as the #5 seed. After 110 scoreless minutes the Blue and Green edged the Seahawks in penalty kicks as they advance to the Semifinals for the first time since 2005. Endicott improves to 9-6-4 while Salve Regina falls to 7-19-1.

Endicott will take the field next on Wednesday, November 5^th as they travel to compete with #1 Nichols in the semifinals. The pair last met back on September 19^th where the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

The first half was an absolute battle as they Gulls just outshot the Seahawks 6-5. In the opening minutes, junior Diego Slobotzky (Mexico City, Mexico) sent a header to goal but junior Daniel Stern (Kings Park, N.Y.) was able to make the stop.

At the 37 minute mark the Gulls took another attempt at a tally as junior Kyle Bisceglia (New Boston, N.H.) blasted a shot towards the net but again Stern was able to make the save to keep Endicott off the board. Four minutes later the Seahawks had their first attempt at a goal as senior Alex Wasilewski (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) took a huge shot from the 25 that just sailed high as it bounced off the cross bar and out of bounce. In the final minutes of the half the Blue and Green gave it one more go as junior Abdulla Al-Khalifa went for the lead but Stern again posted the impressive save to keep the game scoreless entering halftime.

The second half showed a hungry group of Gulls that outshot the Seahawks 16-11. The Endicott offense came out of the gates firing as they peppered Stern and his defensive unit forcing him to make three big saves in the opening minutes.

Just before the 60 minute mark, senior goalkeeper Alex Jorge (Billerica, Mass.) was contested by senior Zak Bissell (Allendale, N.J.) but Jorge continued to stay on his toes as he picked up the save. Both sides would continue to try for a tally and the lead but neither side could capitalize while regulation ended in a stalemate.

In the first set of extra time Salve Regina took four shots to Endicott's two while Jorge made two crucial saves. Just under the 96 minute mark sophomore Evan Dundey (North Andover, Mass.) blasted a shot in attempt for a game winner but Jorge was able to dive in and make the key save to force a second set of extra time.

Endicott took three shots in the second set of extra time to Salve Reginas' two while earning a crucial corner kick opportunity. After a corner kick taken by Slobotzky, junior Zach Rizzo (Redding, Conn.) blasted a hard shot to goal that was blocked by the Seahawks defense. After one more shot from both sides extra time ended, forcing penalty kicks.

After the original five shots the penalty kicks were tied at 4-4. After a make by both on the sixth attempt, freshman Brendan McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) stepped up and beat Stern. Bissell followed McLaughlin's make but his shot just sailed wide securing the victory for the Blue and Green.

Jorge walked away with while saves, while his counterpart, Stern picked up 10.

To stay connected with the 2014 CCC Men's Soccer Tournament follow the Interactive Bracket and Endicott's Championship Central Page.