Gulls squander lead, tripped by No. 19 Wesleyan
March 27, 2008
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Wesleyan University freshman Jess Chukwu (Evanston, Ill.) netted the game-winning goal off a free-position shot with just eight seconds left in regulation, lifting the 19th-ranked Cardinals to a come-from-behind win over Endicott College in Middletown, Conn. The Gulls led, 12-5, early in the second half.
Meeting for just the second time in history - the Cardinals' won the previous meeting last season 16-9 - the visiting Gulls turned a slim 4-3 lead into a six goal advantage by scoring five-straight times in a 3:23 span. Endicott would enter the intermission with a 10-5 lead. Freshman Kelsey Lawler (Hurst, Texas) had two of the five Endicott tallies during the spurt, while junior Alex Pearce (Underhill, Vt.) dished out three assists. Kellie Cunningham (Derry, N.H.) also notched a goal and an assist during the flurry.
Cunningham and junior Sara Gunter (Kennebunk, Maine) opened the scoring for the Gulls in the second half to give the visitors their largest lead of the afternoon, 12-5. However it was Wesleyan that would string together the largest run of the game, as the hosts netted the next seven goals to knot the score at 12-all with 12:49 remaining.
Allie Lynch (Greenwich, Conn.), who finished with six goals and an assist, had three of the Cardinals' seven goals including the equalizer off a feed by junior Jade Scott (Denver, Colo.). Endicott fired back as Kellie Cunningham gave Endicott the lead back at the 11:37 mark on a free-position shot, yet Wesleyan responded just seconds later to keep the score tied.
With a combined 11 goals between the teams in the opening 19 minutes of the period, the squads went quiet for more than seven minutes before a strong individual run by Wesleyan sophomore Charlotte Hastings (Taftsville, Vt.) gave the Cardinals their first lead with 4:03 remaining.
Kellie Cunningham cashed in for her fifth goal of the game by beating several Wesleyan defenders up the middle to put home a high shot with 3:16 to go, making it 14-14. Wesleyan had two shots in the next minute, one wide off a free-position and another by Chukwu which was saved by Endicott keeper junior Molly Hamel (North Yarmouth, Maine).
After an exchange of possessions, Wesleyan had the ball in the offensive end for the final minute in hopes of setting up a final shot. Chukwu, who had already netted three goals, had the ball in the middle and attempted to move inside but was fouled. She was awarded a free-position and made good on a high shot to the right of Hamel for the winner with eight ticks remaining.
The Gulls look to rebound on Wednesday evening as they travel to Dudley, Massachusetts for a The Commonwealth Coast Conference contest against Nichols College. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.