Beverly, Mass. – Colleen Pepin (Fairhaven, Mass.) and Kayla Corbett (Danvers, Mass.) each scored twice to power the Endicott women’s soccer team past visiting Curry College, 5-1, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup. The Gulls improve to 14-5-1 with the win and advance to take on Western New England in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Colonels finish with an overall record of 9-10.
The Blue and Green got off to a lightning fast start. Pepin, a First Team All-TCCC selection, took a pass from Chelsea Garlock (Meriden, Conn.) in the 1st minute of play down the middle of the field. The junior forward cut the ball to her right foot and fired a shot inside from the top of the box into the left corner to put the Gulls on top 1-0 just 38 seconds into the match.
Sophomore forward Vanessa Caruccio (Winthrop, Mass.) doubled the lead in the 23rd minute after driving home a loose ball in the box.
Less than 90 seconds later, First Team All-TCCC selection Victoria Hunt (Cumberland, R.I.) sent a through ball down the right wing towards Pepin, who beat a charging Samantha Hardy (Pepperell, Mass.) with a low shot from the top of the box. The goal was the 20th of the season or Pepin, the benchmark in the conference.
Corbett got on the board with two minutes remaining in the first half. Freshman forward Heather Moody (Dunstable, Mass.) played a corner kick into the center of the box towards Corbett, who placed a right footed volley just under the crossbar.
At the break, Endicott led 4-0 on the scoreboard and held a 13-2 advantage in shots.
The Colonels trimmed the deficit to three in the early stages of the second half. Kelly Howe (Walton, Neb.) settled a ball and played a short pass to the top of the box where Alexsa Hesford (Scituate, R.I.) delivered a lofted shot into the top right corner.
Corbett capped the scoring in the 58th minute with her ninth goal of the season. The First Team All-TCCC honoree settled a loose ball near the right post and directed a left footed shot toward goal. The ball deflected off a Curry defender and into the back of the net to put the hosts on top 5-1.
Freshman goalie Natalie Wyrsch (Dover, N.H.) was rarely tested and had to make just one save in the win. Curry’s Hardy made ten saves in the loss.
The Gulls outshot the Colonels 23-4 in the contest and also held an advantage in corner kicks (6-1).
Endicott advances to the semifinals against No. 3 Western New England (13-7, 10-3 TCCC) on Tuesday.
The Golden Bears were 3-1 winners over visiting Nichols on Saturday morning. The Colonels end their season with the loss.
(Release Courtesy of Endicott Sports Information)
