Gulls Prepare to Grapple Tigers

May 9, 2006

BEVERLY, MA - The Endicott College women's lacrosse team will kickoff an NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Lacrosse Tournament doubleheader Wednesday when the Gulls take on Colorado College at 1:00 PM in their first-ever NCAA Tournament game.

Endicott won the Commonwealth Coast Conference and will put a 17-2 record on the line Wednesday versus a Colorado College club that is 9-6. The Tigers earned an independent bid to the tourney and boast 30-goal scorers in Helen Sneath as well as Kate Fitzgerald and Mallory Newton, who have each scored 20 goals this spring.

Sneath has piled up 33 goals for 41 points while leading the team in caused turnovers (28). Fitzgerald (39 points) and Newton (35 points) each have 28 goals in 15 games and Kerry O'Shaughnessy (16 goals) and Robin Harvey (15 goals) are the only other players with more than 10 goals.

The Tiger goal will be well-defended by Alana Dalton and Jess Van Doren. Dalton has the majority of the decisions in goals, appearing 14 games, allowing 11.05 goals with a .353 saver percentage and a 7-6 record. Van Doren owns a goals against average of 10.81 and a save percentage of .472.

The Gulls counter offensively with CCC Player of the Year Cathy Sharp (Rutland, VT/Rutland) who is 14th in the nation in goals per game, averaging 3.95 this spring. She has amassed 75 goals this spring and was a driving force in the Gulls' firs CCC championship. She netted 16 goals in three playoff games, including seven goals in the title-clinching victory over Curry College (16-12).

Senior attack Susie Neikirk (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) is tied for second on the team in scoring with 26 goals and 12 assists, while freshman midfielder Sara Gunter (Kennebunk, ME/Kennebunk) has also found the net with ease, scoring 33 goals and handing out five assists.

Freshman defender Molly Moss (Yarmouth, ME/North Yarmouth Academy) has also been a vital contributor in her first season. Moss has 10 goals and two assists to go along with 21 caused turnovers and 28 ground balls.

Midfielder Emily Judd (Peabody, MA/Peabody) excelled at both ends of the field in her sophomore campaign. The CCC Defensive Player of the Year ranks eighth in the country in ground balls (4.53) and 11th in caused turnovers (3.05) while committing just 16 turnovers herself. She brings her 27 goals to the field Wednesday while Alex Pearce (Underhill, VT/Kimball Union Academy) and Shiori Tachiwana (Kanagawa, Japan/Sakae Instititute) are also 20-goal scorers.

Junior goalkeeper Erin Curry (Hampstead, NH/Gould Academy) has been solid in goal for the Gulls. She ranks in the top 20 in Division III in goals against average (7.79) and save percentage (.558) in 16 games started.

Freshman Molly Hamel (North Yarmouth, ME/Greely) takes a 5.63 GAA into the tourney as well as a .649 save percentage.