BEVERLY, Mass. – The third-seeded Roger Williams University field hockey team (15-7) battled top-seeded Endicott College (16-4) in the 2026 Conference of New England (CNE) Championship on Saturday afternoon, taking the Gulls to overtime before falling, 2-1, at North Field.
Corsetti Gives Hawks Early Advantage
The Hawks opened the scoring in the first quarter, as sophomore midfielder Libby Corsetti (Arlington, Mass.) found the back of the cage at 12:54. Corsetti's fourth goal of the season came off an assist from sophomore midfielder Eva Wood (Sandwich, Mass.), giving RWU a 1-0 advantage.
RWU Carries Lead Into Halftime
Roger Williams carried that lead into halftime, with junior goalkeeper Meili Raspante (Cotuit, Mass.) and the Hawks' defensive unit helping keep Endicott off the scoreboard through the opening 30 minutes. Raspante made two saves in the second quarter as the Gulls looked to find an equalizer.
Hawks Generate Offensive Pressure in Third
RWU continued to apply pressure in the third quarter, generating 11 shots while holding Endicott without a shot attempt during the period. The Hawks created several opportunities, including attempts from senior midfielder Emma Sheldon (Suffield, Conn.), sophomore forward Brodie Loveland (West Milford, N.J.) and senior midfielder Maddy Monahan (Bristol, N.H.), but Endicott goalkeeper Faith Minickene kept the Gulls within reach.
Endicott Forces Overtime
Endicott eventually found the equalizer in the fourth quarter. Following a penalty corner, Madison Barwood scored at 52:39 to bring the contest even at 1-1. Both teams continued to battle for the go-ahead goal, but neither side could break the deadlock through the remainder of regulation, sending the championship into overtime.
Gulls Secure Championship in Overtime
In the extra period, the Hawks continued to generate scoring opportunities, recording four shots and earning a penalty corner. Minickene turned aside each of RWU's attempts to keep the game tied. With the contest approaching its conclusion, Endicott earned a penalty corner of its own. Abby Antonelli converted off an assist from Riley Perkins at 66:33, securing the 2-1 overtime victory and the CNE Championship for the Gulls.
By the Numbers
Roger Williams finished the afternoon with a 23-13 advantage in shots, including an 11-0 edge in the third quarter, and earned eight penalty corners. Raspante recorded five saves in goal for the Hawks, while Corsetti led RWU with the opening goal. Monahan paced the team with five shots, while Loveland added four.
What's Next?
Saturday's championship game concludes the 2026 season for Roger Williams, capping a 15-7 campaign highlighted by resilience, growth and a series of memorable performances against some of the region's top competition.
The Hawks opened the season with an impressive victory over No. 24 WPI, setting the tone for a year filled with high-level competition. RWU later delivered another statement performance on Senior Day, earning a 2-1 victory over Endicott before carrying that momentum into the postseason.
In the CNE Semifinals, the Hawks battled Western New England University (WNE) into overtime and secured a dramatic victory to earn their place in the conference championship game. That postseason run set up Saturday's matchup with the top-seeded Gulls, where RWU once again demonstrated its ability to compete at the highest level.
Although the season ended one step short of a conference championship, the Hawks' 2026 campaign was defined by grit, poise and continued growth. Roger Williams will look to build on the experience gained throughout the season and put in the work necessary to return to the CNE Championship next fall.
