Gulls Stifle Salem State to Open Season with Victory

SALEM, Mass. – Endicott's women's soccer team controlled possession for most of the game and outshot their opponents 15-3 en route to a 3-0 victory at Salem State University in the Gull's season opener.

Endicott saw immediate impact from several of their first year players, as two freshmen scored goals and another added an assist for their first collegiate points.

Freshman Rebecca Gustine (East Hampton, Conn.) got the Gulls on the board twenty-six minutes into the half when she took a pass from Nicole Fournier (Milford, Mass.) and looped it over the head of Salem State goalie Rachel Ledbetter (Dracut, Mass.).

The Gulls doubled their advantage seven minutes later through two veteran players. Forward Vanessa Caruccio (Winthrop, Mass.) set up the goal, breaking down the left side of the field and dribbling into the box. The finish was a simple matter of slotting the ball by Ledbetter to Chelsea Garlock (Meriden, Conn.), who finished into the open net for her first goal of the year.

A tandem of freshman paired up for the final goal of the afternoon, which came just over six minutes from full time. Midfielder LeeAnn Card (Paxton, Mass.) got up and fired a header into the back of the net on a picture-perfect ball delivered by Paige Marinelli (Burlington, Conn.).

Garlock led the way with four shots for Endicott, three of them on net, while the hosts' only shot on frame came in the second half on a Casey Connolly effort that was turned aside by junior goalie Natalie Wyrsch (Dover, N.H.), who collected the shutout for the Gulls, a feat she turned in five times last season.

Ledbetter made six stops in the second game of her collegiate career between the pipes. Endicott held a 9-1 shots on goal advantage and took eight corner kicks to Salem's two.

The Gulls are now undefeated in their last three season openers (two wins and one tie), all against Salem State. Last year the Gulls beat the Vikings 2-0 at Endicott Stadium.

Endicott (1-0) will play their home opener at the Stadium on Wednesday night when they host Wellesley at 7:00 pm. Salem State (1-1), will host Curry College on Thursday night at 6:00 pm.