BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott women's soccer team suffered its first loss in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Friday evening, falling to Roger Williams 2-1.
 
With the setback, Endicott falls to 4-4-4 (2-1-1 CCC) on the season, while Roger Williams improves to 5-7-0 (2-1-0 CCC).
 
In the 32nd meeting between the two storied programs, Hannah Pesci (Windham, N.H.) would give the Gulls an early lead, scoring her third of the season in the 14th minute. Pesci's blast on the left side of the box came at the 13:48 mark and beat the outstretched keeper to the right. Sharlotte Pernice (West Springfield, Mass.) was credited with the assist after settling a loose ball and making the quick pass to Pesci. The assist was Pernice's second of the season.
 
That would be the only tally in the opening 45 minutes as Endicott took the 1-0 into half time.
 
The Hawks would battle back and tie the match early in the second when Kelly Yadoff (Wyckoff, N.J.) scored her second of the season off a well placed corner into the box from Raleigh LeMiere-Barnes (Los Angeles, Calif.). The cross from the right corner was on a line into the box and was one-timed into the back of the net to knot the match at 1-1.
 
LeMiere-Barnes would then score the eventual game-winner in the 57th minute as she scored on a free kick from roughly 40 yards out. The senior was able to place her shot just under the cross and out of the reach of Kayla Wentworth (Taunton, Mass.) to give the Hawks the 2-1 lead, a score that would hold true at the end of regulation.
 
Coming on for the second half was Morgan Strassburg (Longmeadow, Mass.) who made three saves and earned the win to improve to 2-3-0 on the season. Wentworth's record fell to 4-4-4 with the setback.
 
Two goals is the most either team has allowed the other to score since November 2, 2005 when Endicott won 5-1.
 
"You always mark on your calendar this game between the Hawks and Gulls," said Head Coach Tim Moody. "It is like the El Classico of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Everyone gets up for the game, we travel with lots of fans, family members and the alumnae come out in force! So for those reason alone you want to play well, compete for every ball and come away on the right side of the result. It is a game you don't want to lose in any way shape or form.
 
"Today, well we achieved what we wanted. We ticked most of the boxes but especially the big one, the one that counts the most. The feeling of winning the game is hard to explain, you have to feel it, live it and relish the achievement. We were well worth the three points and did well all over the pitch. It was a total team effort. Everybody involved with the program helped us win today.
 
"The support in the stands was immense and the encouragement and support shown from those that made the match and from the emails we had received made the victory even more special this year. Like most games, we put together a game plan, how we plan to win the game, because we play to win the game. We are not here to just make up the numbers. We practice to develop players and on game day we give 100% effort to compete with an opportunity to win a game of soccer.
 
"We played and beat a very good team today, which tells us we must be a very good team as well when we all pull together in the same direction. Soccer is the ultimate team sport and without teamwork this would not have been achievable. We have an awesome coaching staff who seriously care about the players and the continued success of the program.
 
"We have won more than most programs and we have set the standard and the new players need to be the standard. We will continue to recruit players who want to be on a championship team and leave a legacy of sustained excellence."

Endicott is off until Tuesday when they travel to CCC and cross-town rival Gordon for a 3:00 PM start. Roger Williams returns home to host Salve Regina at 6:00 PM on Tuesday.
 
- Release courtesy of the Endicott College Sports Information Department