Endicott Falls to Gordon 2-1 in Overtime; Itoh with 2nd of the Season

WENHAM, Mass.- Endicott traveled across town to take on Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) and North Shore rival Gordon on Saturday, looking to knock off the top team in the conference in front of 1,000 passionate fans. Ninety minutes would prove not to be enough as the two squads would play into overtime, with the Fighting Scots netting the game winner in the 98th minute to defeat the Gulls 2-1.  With the setback, Endicott falls to 5-5-1 (1-2-1 CCC) on the season while Gordon improves to 10-1-0 (4-0-0 CCC).  Endicott takes to the road again tomorrow as they face off against NESCAC foe Williams.

The first half saw a defensive battle result in a 0-0 tie after 45 minutes for the two squads.  Endicott keeper Alex Jorge (Billerica, Mass.) would make two of his seven saves in the period as Gordon out-shot the Gulls 4-0 in the half.  

Half time adjustments from both squads saw a different half in the second, as both teams would get on the scoreboard.  The first strike of the afternoon came in the 59th minute as two players in their first year dawning the Blue and Green, Shintaroh Itoh (Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) and Carter Ocko (Danvers, Mass.) would connect to give the Gulls the 1-0 lead.  The tally was the second of the season for Itoh as was the assist for Ocko.

Gordon would answer back 14 minutes later behind a strike from Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.).  The sophomore midfielder took a feed from freshman Nathan Bilbie (Shrewsbury, Pa.)  to knot the score up at 1-1 in the 79th minute.  The goal was the fifth of the year for Cole and the assist was the eighth point of the season for Bilbie.

Endicott would end the half with three corners in the half as well as seven total shots, three of which were on frame.  The hometown Scots would record 10 shots in the half, seven of which were on goal, causing Jorge to stand on his head and record six saves to force an overtime conclusion.  

The overtime period saw both defenses stand tall again, combining to yield just one shot in the extra four minutes of play.  That one shot would prove to be enough for the Scots, as Cole found Kevin Payne (Grant Pass, Ore.) for his first goal of the season to lift Gordon to a 2-1 victory.

With the setback, Endicott falls to 5-5-1 (1-2-1 CCC) on the season while Gordon improves to 10-1-0 (4-0-0 CCC).  Endicott takes to the road again tomorrow as they face off against NESCAC foe Williams.  Start time is set for 1:30 p.m. in the non-conference matchup.  Gordon, winners of three straight, take to the road on Tuesday to take on the Owls of Keene State.  Start time is slated for 6:30 p.m. in Keene, N.H.