Gulls Advance to NCAA Round of 32 After 1-0 Win Over Scranton

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.- Facing a Scranton team that was making their fourth straight NCAA DIII Championship appearance in four years, the Endicott women's soccer team rode their lone goal to victory as they defeated the Royals 1-0 on the campus of Middlebury College in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.  With the win, Endicott now advances to face host Middlebury at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Both team's defensive units proved to be up to the task as each side would yield under five shots on goal throughout the entire match.  Scranton would edge Endicott on total shots, 11 to seven, and shots on goal, four to three in the match, as well corner kicks, six to three.  The Royals entered the match averaging 15.8 shots per game and 2.3 goals per game while the Gulls entered averaging 2.0 goals and 17.5 shots per game.

The Gulls would post the only tally of the affair behind LeeAnn Card's (Paxton, Mass.) third goal of the season.  Ally George (Stratham, N.H.) would take a cross and find Card near the top of the box. Card would settle the ball and take her shot, a blast of a one timer.  Her shot would launch into the back of the net to put the Gulls up 1-0 in the 33rd minute, and would ultimately prove to be the game winner, her second of the season.  The assist was George's third of the season.

At the close of the first half, Scranton would hold a 7-4 edge in shots as Endicott keeper Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) would be forced to make three saves to preserve what would ultimately be her ninth shutout of the year. Person, Clare Mansfield (Stoneham, Mass.) and Katherine Chipman (Brunswick, Maine) would help hold the Royals off the scoreboard as the Gulls' back line consistently foiled any offensive chances for Scranton.

The second half would see the statistics even out for both squads as the Gulls would manage just three shots to Scranton's four.  Both teams would attempt two corners in the half as the play would prove to remain a defensive battle.  The Gulls would provide an offensive surge in the latter part of the half as the Gulls nearly converted on shots in the 77th and 78th minutes.  In the 77th minute, Ashley Mueskes (Georgetown, Mass.) snapped off a shot from 25 yards out that would rock off the crossbar leaving the score at 1-0.  Just a minute later, the Gulls would nearly double their total again as Marinelli's left footed free kick nearly bent into the far post.  

The Royals would provide some excitement of their own late in the match as Ellen Walker would see her free kick glance off the cross bar in the 86th minute.  In the 88th minute, Christina Akalski would take a shot from the right wing of the box that would fly high and left.  

Endicott coach Jodi Kenyon was quick to note her teams defensive effort in the match and pointed out CCC Senior Scholar Athlete Sarah Person (Holden, Mass.) for her performance while also acknowledging the play of two offensive players.  "Sarah Person was outstanding today against Scranton and their potent offensive attack," she said.  "Paige Marinelli (Burlington, Conn.) was dangerous for us on the attack with her crosses and created multiple opportunities, including the corner that led to the goal."

With the win, the Gulls advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in program history and for the fourth consecutive time in their four most recent appearances.  Endicott will face off against host Middlebury who defeated Bridgewater State 5-0 on Saturday.  Match time is set for a 1:30 p.m. start.