Endicott Blanks Nichols 2-0 in Women’s Soccer

DUDLEY, Mass. – After having their clean sheet streak stopped their last time out, Endicott again kept their opponents off the scoreboard on Wednesday, collecting a 2-0 shutout over Nichols College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's soccer action at Vendetti Field. 

Senior captain Caitlin Peters (Salem, N.H.) scored her first goal of the season early in the first half as the Gulls improved to 9-5-2 (5-1-1) with the win. Endicott outshot the Bison 31-2 and controlled the ball in its offense end of the field for the majority of the contest. 

Peters netted the only goal the Gulls needed 9:16 into the match, heading home a corner kick from junior Heather Moody (Dunstable, Mass.) from a few feet out. 

With time winding down in the opening half, Endicott senior Christina Vellucci (Saugus, Mass.) played a ball into the box that freshman LeeAnn Card (Paxton, Mass.) knocked past English to double the Gulls lead at 44:42. The Gulls closed the half with a 19-1 edge in shots, with the crucial one coming as Card collected her fourth goal of the year. 

Freshman Kelly English (Mansfield, Mass.) recorded 12 saves for Nichols, who were held without a shot for more than 35 minutes before freshman Anjali Rowe (Newington, Conn.) got free for a scoring attempt. 

Endicott sophomore goalkeeper Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) recorded two saves to improve to 6-2-1.   

The best scoring chance for either side in the second half came with 4:45 remaining in regulation. Endicott Freshman Madison McKinley (Shrewsbury, Mass.) broke through the defense just past midfield and went in alone on English. The goalkeeper came out to challenge, which cut down the angle and forced a shot that hit English between the numbers. 

Endicott will celebrate Senior Day with their next game, the final regular season home game of the 2012 season. That game, slated for Saturday at 2:30 pm, will see the Gulls entertain Salve Regina. 

The Bison (3-10-2, 0-7-0- CCC) return to action on Saturday when they travel to Boston for a 12:30 p.m. contest at Wentworth.