Gulls Drop First Game of the Season to #18 Bowdoin

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's lacrosse team played host to #18 Bowdoin on Tuesday evening for a non-conference matchup. Entering the matchup the Blue and Green were coming off a 2-0 week led by two CCC Player of the Week honors in junior Ellie Clayman (Beverly, Mass.) and freshman Emily Whitney (Rye, N.H.). Despite the three goals effort from Clayman the Gulls could not stop a five goal game from seniors Jordan Smith (Glen Ridge, N.J.) and Betsy Sachs (Glenside, N.Y.) who helped lead the Polar Bears to the 15-5 victory with five goals each. Endicott falls to 2-1, (0-0 CCC) while Bowdoin improves to 2-2, (0-2 NESCAC).

The first 15 minutes of the first half was a battle as it was a one goal game until the Polar Bears started to pull away at the 9:23 mark. In the opening minutes Bowdoin's sophomore Lindsay Picard (New York, N.Y.) started the scoring on a free position shot as she was able to slip it past senior goalkeeper Ryan Socolow (Westford, Mass.).

The Gulls however answered back three minutes later when senior tri-captain Callie Murphy (Woburn, Mass.) tallied her fourth goal of the season on a great play in front of the net to make it a 1-1 game. At the 18:36 mark Clayman gave the Gulls their only lead of the game after blasting the ball into the back of the net. To continue the battle for control of the scoreboard Sachs tied the game back up with her sixth goal of the season off a free position shot.

Bowdoin found their rhythm as they continued to score a straight seven goals to Endicott's zero which was led by an impressive Sachs, who posted four goals and one assist in 15 minutes of play to give the Polar Bears a 9-2 edge entering halftime.

Senior tri-captain Rachel Campos (Shrewsbury, Mass.) played well in the midfield controlling six draw controls to make it an even split with the Polar Bears but where the Gulls struggled was doubling Bowdoin in turnovers (12-6) and shots (17-6).

The second half showed a strong nationally ranked team that held the Gulls to going 1-5 from the free position marks and forced them to fail 3-4 clears. The Blue and Green never gave up as they forced Polar Bear fouls off the draw to lead 7-2 in the half while battling in ground balls earning two more than Bowdoin.

Scoring in the second half was similar to the first for Endicott as they posted their first in the opening minutes by rookie Meghan Lennon (Canton, Mass.). However they then allowed six straight Bowdoin goals and did not answer back until the final minutes when Clayman posted two consecutive to earn her 10^th and 11^th on the season but the efforts were not enough as the Polar Bears came out on top 15-5.

Both Campos and Murphy worked hard in the midfield off the draw each earning four draw controls on the night while Campos held strong defensively leading with four caused turnovers. Socolow held strong between the pipes making five saves on the night and grabbing two ground balls.

Endicott will take the field next on Saturday, March 15th when they wrap up their set of four straight home games as they host Wheaton (Mass.) at 1:00 p.m. on North Field. Bowdoin will battle conference opponent Hamilton in Brunswick on the 15^th as well at 12:00 p.m.