BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman midfielder Ashley Cook (San Diego, Calif.) converted a penalty kick with 12 seconds remaining in regulation, completing a three-goal second half and leading the Wentworth women's soccer team to a 3-2 win over Endicott in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Sweeney Field. The win for the Leopards was just the second over the Gulls in the 16 meetings between the two schools, with both coming on Sweeney Field.
Endicott jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead, beginning with a goal from senior Kayla Corbett (Danvers, Mass.), who scored when a senior midfielder Sarah Johnson (Harrisville, R.I.) corner kick was served into the box and Corbett snuck the service inside the left post at 16:20. Less than five minutes later the Gulls extended their lead to 2-0 when Corbett served a cross that was deflected to sophomore forward Chelsea Garlock (Meriden, Conn.) and put the shot home. Despite holding a two-goal advantage at the break, Endicott was outshot, 7-5.
Just 1:55 into the second half the hosts got on the scoreboard when sophomore midfielder Molly Newcomb (Marshfield, Mass.) rifled a shot off the crossbar. The rebound was misplayed by Endicott's defense and classmate Taryn Doherty (Marshfield, Mass.) took advantage of a loose ball by hitting a shot from in front of the net. That goal was the first the Leopards had scored against the Gulls since the 2006 season. Wentworth tied the game at 2-all at 52:04 when the Leopards were issued a free kick from the top of the 18-yard box. Off a set play, Cook one-touched the ball to junior midfielder Lucy Brown (Plainville, Conn.), who fond the upper part of the net.
The Gulls had a chance to take a 3-2 lead when freshman Taylor Ocko (Danves, Mass.) was served a corner kick by senior midfielder Karyn Plante (Sanford, Maine). Ocko's shot was headed for an open net, but a Leopard defender cleared the ball off the line to prevent the go-ahead goal.
Cook took the penalty kick after sophomore Elizabeth Somma (Windham, Maine) was fouled inside the box in the waning seconds of regulation. Her attempt beat freshman Natalie Wyrsch (Dover, N.H.) to the lower left side for the game-winning tally.
Sophomore Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.) made eight saves – including six in the second half – for the Leopards, who snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 4-9-1 (3-6-1 TCCC). Wyrsch stopped six shots for the Gulls, who suffered their first league loss (9-1-0) of the season and fall to 11-4-1.
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday. Wentworth hosts Nichols at 4:00, while Endicott hosts Roger Williams at 6:30.
