Late Strikes Doom Blue Soccer as Endicott Tops Wellesley, 3-1

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Visiting Endicott scored twice in the final 23 minutes of play, capturing a 3-1 victory over Wellesley College in non-conference women's soccer action on Wednesday afternoon. The win improves the Gulls to 3-3-1, while Wellesley dips to 2-5-0.

The Gulls broke a 1-1 tie with a 68th-minute strike from Jessica Joseph, while adding an 84th minute score from Shelby McLenithan to make it 3-1 Endicott. 

For the game, the visitors out-shot Wellesley 18-6, including a decisive 15-4 advantage in the second half. The Gulls also held a slim 2-1 edge in corner kicks. 

Wellesley dug an early hole in a sluggish first half for both teams. Endicott took a 1-0 lead in the 15th-minute, as a Blue miscue on defense allowed an own goal to score. That mark stood as the only scoring in the first half, as the teams combined for just five total shots.

The Blue quickly tied the game at 1-1 early in the second. Chloe Breider played a long ball over the defenders, finding Kyla Petrie at the PK line. Petrie settled the ball and beat the Endicott keeper for her second goal of the season. 

The 1-1 tie withstood a barrage of scoring chances from both teams from the 59th to the 66th-minute. Blue keeper Claire Cerda made four saves in that stretch, before Endicott tallied the game-leading and insurance goals. 

In the 68th-minute, Joseph broke free from the defense, carrying the ball up the right side of the field. Her shot was placed high and to the left, finding the back of the net for a 2-1 Endicott lead.

Wellesley's defense couldn't find a rhythm following Joseph's score, and in the 84th-minute, McLenithan dribbled up field creating a one-on-one with the Blue keeper. Her hard shot beat Cerda on the left side, giving the Gulls the 3-1 advantage that would hold.

Endicott's Katie Donnelly needed just two saves to earn the win in goal for the Gulls. Wellesley's Cerda finished with nine saves, suffering the loss. 

Wellesley is back in action on Saturday, traveling to Emerson for their NEWMAC season opener. Endicott also begins conference play on Saturday, heading to Roger Williams for a 1:00pm CCC clash.