Endicott Downs Wellesley Soccer in OT, 2-1

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Endicott College senior Rachel Hanna (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal 6:06 into the first overtime to send the visiting Gulls to a 2-1 victory over Wellesley College soccer on Tuesday afternoon at the Wellesley Field Complex.

The Gulls scored back-to-back goals in the second half and overtime to improve their record to 2-2-0 on the season. The Blue have dropped three-straight contests and fall to 1-3-1 overall.

Hanna connected on a header, redirecting a cross from junior Sharlotte Pernice (West Springfield, Mass.) past Wellesley sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Reckley (Grosse Isle, Mich.) to win the game for the Gulls. The goal was the third of the season for Hanna and the first game-winner for the senior forward, who tallied four game-winners just a season ago.

Following a scoreless first half, it was the Blue that grabbed the lead at 58:53 of the second, when sophomore Carley Phillips (Waterford, Conn.) netted her third of the year. Phillips took a touch into space following a short pass from classmate Deyanira Ibarra (Los Olivos, Calif.), before beating Endicott senior goalkeeper Shelby Elwell (Litchfield, Conn.) to make the score 1-0 Wellesley.

The Blue held onto the lead until 73:18, when senior Brady Sezon (Easton, Conn.) finished for her first of the year, knocking home a low cross from sophomore Hannah Pesci (Windham, N.H.). The teams then played scoreless for the final 16:42 of regulation before Hanna sent the Gulls home as winners in OT.

Reckley made three saves for the Blue, while Elwell tallied four saves for the visitors. Endicott finished with a 17-11 lead in shots, but the teams were even in shots on goal at 5-5.

Both teams will continue the season on Saturday, September 16, at 1:00 PM. Wellesley will open the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) season when they host Seven Sisters rival Smith College and Endicott will welcome Eastern Nazarene.