Gulls Fall to Babson in Season Opener; Rookie Brittany Bushey Earns First Collegiate Goal

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team traveled to Babson on Friday evening for the 2014 season opener on the road. After a scoreless first half the Beavers were able to edge the Gulls 2-1 in their second half efforts. Sophomore Staci Swallow (South Portland, Maine) and senior Caroline Malone (Walpole, Mass.) tallied the two goals for Babson while Endicott rookie, Brittany Bushey (Pittsfield, Vt.) earned the lone tally for the Gulls for her first collegiate goal.

Endicott falls to 0-1 (0-0 CCC) while Babson improves to 1-0 (0-0 NEWMAC) in their home opener. The Gulls will pick back up on Monday, September 1st when they travel to Colby Sawyer for a non-conference matchup at 1:00 p.m. while the Beavers look to Wednesday, September 3rd as they travel to Worcester State for a 7:00 p.m. start.

The first half was well matched as the Beavers just outshot the Blue and Green 5-3 and on corners 5-4. In the opening minutes senior Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) started to test junior goalkeeper Kayla Costa (Watertown, Mass.) forcing a shot and back to back corners but could not find the back of the net. The Beavers were able to answer back as Malone led her attack also forcing consecutive offensive corners but could not capitalize. The Gulls defense held strong anchored by rookie goalkeeper Cheka Ventura (Lawrence, Mass.) who posted some game changing saves in the half while senior defender Alyssa Clark (Gorham, Main) also held strong in the circle and worked to push the ball up the midfield.

Sawchuck led the half for Endicott with three shots while junior Morgan Bresnahan (South Burlington, Vt.) held strong on offensive corners and on the attack.

The second half showed a stronger Babson team who outshot the Gulls 10-5 while forcing 10 corners. 11 minutes into the second half Malone tallied the first goal of the game and the season after she received a feed from junior Elizabeth Holmes (Southborough, Mass.) off a corner play. Four minutes later Swallow had her chance at goal after she controlled a cross from sophomore Megan Jones (Essex, Mass.) to find the back of the net.

The Blue and Green would not back down as 10 minutes later Bushey got the Gulls back in the game after she received a pass from senior midfielder Elizabeth LeClair and swept the ball past Costa to make it a one goal game with nine minutes to go in the regulation.

Endicott pushed to tie up the game forcing a penalty corner with three minutes to go but it was not enough as Babson held on to the lead for the victory.

Despite the loss Ventura was stealthy in net in her first collegiate appearance making five total saves while Costa made three.