Meeting for just the second time, Wesleyan and Endicott hooked up in a thrilling contest that was decided by a freshman Jess Chukwu free-position goal with :08 to play as Wesleyan, ranked 19th nationally in Division III, rallied for a 15-14 victory. Last year in Beverly, Mass., Wesleyan claimed a 16-9 victory over Endicott.

The visiting Gulls broke away from a slim 4-3 lead with 17:11 to go in the first half by scoring five straight goals in a span of 3:23 on their way to a 10-5 lead at halftime. Freshman Kelsey Lawler had two of the five Endicott tallies while junior Alex Pearce dished off three assists and freshman Kellie Cunningham picked up a goal and an assist during the flurry. But Wesleyan had the game's strongest sting of goals, triggered by freshman Allie Lynch in the second half.

After Cunningham and junior Sara Gunter opened the scoring for Endicott in the second period for the game's largest lead at 12-5, Wesleyan netted the next seven goals to knot the score at 12-12 with 12:49 remaining. Lynch, who finished with six goals and an assist, had three of the Cardinals seven goals including the equalizer off a feed by junior Jade Scott. Though Cunningham gave Endicott back the lead at the 11:37 mark on a free-position shot, Lynch responded just 30 seconds later to make it 13-13.

After 11 goals between the teams in the opening 19 minutes of the period, the teams went quiet and more than seven minutes passed before a strong run by Wesleyan sophomore Charlotte Hastings from the left side resulted in the Cardinals' first lead at the 4:03 mark. Cunningham cashed in on her fifth goal of the game and 20th of the season to lead Endicott, beating several Wesleyan defenders up the middle to put home a high shot with 3:16 to go, making it 14-14.

Wesleyan had two shots in the next minute of the game, one wide off a free position and another by Chukwu which was saved by Endicott keeper junior Molly Hamel, who finished with 11 stops. After an exchange of possessions, Wesleyan had the ball in the offensive end for the final minute in hopes of setting up a final shot. Chukwu, who had three goals to that point, had the ball in the middle and attempted to move inside but was fouled. She was awarded a free-position and made good on a high shot to the right of Hamel for the winner with eight ticks remaining.

Endicott got the draw and tried moving up the right side, but a good check by Chukwu knocked the ball off a Gulls' stick as time ran out. Wesleyan junior Rachel Stemerman handle the net for the final 41:36, entering the game with Endicott ahead, 8-3, and posted five saves while allowing six goals to gain the win.

2008-03-27