NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team was nipped by visiting Endicott College, 2-1, this afternoon at Mirrione Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons slip to 2-2-1, while the Gulls improve to 3-1.
Endicott owned a 19-10 shot advantage, including 10-3 in shots on frame. The Gulls were awarded all four corner kicks for the game.
Sophomore forward Gabi Krause (Farmington, Conn.) netted a goal and assisted on the other to lead Endicott.
The Gulls took an early 1-0 lead with a marker in the seventh minute of the contest. Wheaton's defense tried to clear the ball, but sophomore defender Belle Johnson (Bridgewater, Mass.) intercepted the ball in the air with a header that she directed toward Krause on the left side. The second-year player casually stepped into the ball on one bounce and lifted a shot from just inside the top of the box that sailed into the far right corner for her first collegiate goal just 6:49 into the match.
The lead stood up for the next 22-plus minutes until the Lyons tallied the equalizer in the 30th minute. Sophomore Karina Contreras (Pawtucket, R.I.) single-handedly pulled Wheaton even after the Gull keeper's goal kick didn't have much on it and Contreras stepped in front of the ball. Contreras settled the ball and raced toward the top of the 18-box, before lifting a left-footed shot over the keeper for her second tally of the year with 15:50 showing on the first half clock.
The teams went into the intermission tied at 1-1, before Endicott took the lead for good just over 15 minutes into the second half on a nifty give and go score. Junior midfielder Finley Barker (Underhill, Vt.) carried the ball across the top of the box, before sending a cross to Krause outside the upper left corner of the box. Barker headed into the box, before Krause led her to the left post with a cross. Krause managed to get a shot off, while on her back foot that found the back of the net into the far right side for a 2-1 edge in the 61st minute of action.
Junior keeper Amanda Cosgrove (Newton, Mass.) finished with two saves for the Gulls, while sophomore goalie Olivia King (Simsbury, Conn.) made six stops for the Lyons.
Wheaton opens the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference slate on Saturday, September 19 with a home game against Emerson College at 1:00 p.m. at Mirrione Stadium, while Endicott returns to action on the same day when it hosts Nichols College on Senior Day at 3:00 p.m.
