NORTON, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season in a 1-0 decision to visiting Endicott College this afternoon at Mirrione Stadium in Norton, Mass. on the campus of Wheaton.
The Lyons slip to 4-1-3 overall, while the Gulls improve to 5-2-2.
Endicott dominated the second half of play, out-shooting Wheaton, 13-1, and owned a 21-6 shot advantage for the match. The Gulls were awarded five of the six corner kicks in the game.
Following a scoreless first half by both teams, Endicott made the most of its best opportunity of the day when senior forward Morgan Hubert (Southington, Conn.) met the ball in space on the right side with a head of steam and dribbled the ball on a breakaway. The Lyon keeper came out to cut down the angle, before Hubert drilled a shot ticketed for the far left corner of the net. Wheaton junior goalie Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) was able to get a piece of the ball with an outstretched hand to her right, but there was just enough force on the shot for it to trickle over the goal line for the only marker of the day in the 63rd minute of play.
The Lyons threatened to get on the board early when they were awarded a free kick just outside the top of the box within the first four minutes of the match. Senior forward Lily Brown (Warwick, R.I.) blasted a shot, but it was deflected by the Gulls' wall, before Brown fired again with a rebound shot that was wide left of the net.
Wheaton was unable to present any shots for the remainder of the contest that called for Endicott's keeper to put forth anything but a pedestrian effort.
Sophomore midfielder Callie Neils (Brentwood, N.H.) led all players with four shots in the game for the Gulls, while Hubert finished with three. Brown led the home team with three shots.
Bandrup finished with a season-high of 12 saves for the Lyons, while junior goalie Samantha McCormack (Danvers, Mass.) stopped three shots to earn her first collegiate shutout for Endicott.
The Gulls return to action on September 27 when they travel to Milton, Mass. to take on Curry College at 4:00 p.m., while Wheaton hosts Wellesley University in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play on September 28 at 1:00 p.m.
