Women's Soccer Falls To Nazareth In Season Opener, 2-0
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Endicott women's soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss in its season opener to Nazareth on Friday evening at Golden Flyer Stadium.
After a scoreless first half in which the Gulls outshot the Golden Flyers 7-5 (4-2 on net), the hosts were able to score first after escaping for a successful fast break tally in the 59th minute, rolling one in past the right side of the Endicott defense.
A minute later, the Gulls nearly got one back, as Eliza Walker (Marshfield, Mass.) and Alyssa McColl (Stoughton, Mass.) each had chances from close range but couldn't convert, thanks to an impressive effort from the Flyers' keeper.
Then, in the 72nd, Ella Morgan (Salem, Mass.) drew a foul after poking away a loose ball in the box, and was awarded a penalty kick. However, the would-be equalizer was saved on a magnificent sprawling attempt by the Fylers' goalie, holding the Blue and Green off the board once more.
Morgan worked another great opportunity for the Gulls in the 79th, as her left-footed bomb deflected off the crossbar and left Olivia Pardo (Latham, N.Y.) waiting underneath for a header attempt, but Pardo knocked it just wide of the open net.
The Flyers nailed an 84th minute dagger to seal the deal in the opener.
Amanda Cosgrove (Newton, Mass.) made her collegiate debut and first career start in net for the Blue and Green. She scooped up three saves on the day.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Head Coach Lauren Pien coached her first career game for the Gulls in today's match.
- This is the second meeting all-time between the two programs. In their first encounter, they met in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and the Gulls came out 1-0 victors in Rochester.
- Stella Tessier (Cheshire, Conn.), Emma Spear (Needham, Mass.), and Cosgrove each made their respective collegiate debuts in Friday night's matchup.
- Callie Neils (Brentwood, N.H.) was replaced by Spear in the first half of the contest. Neils played the full 90 minutes in all 20 of Endicott's games last season.
- Chloe Bauman (Southington, Conn.), Michelle Donahue (Melrose, Mass.), and Rhiann Dugan (West Boylston, Mass.) each logged 90 minutes from Endicott's back line.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (0-1-0) heads to Rochester Institute of Technology for a 3 PM road battle tomorrow afternoon. Nazareth (1-0-0) welcomes Grove City College to Golden Flyer Stadium tomorrow for a 4 PM matchup.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)