Endicott Jumps Out to Fast Start in Defeat of Wentworth

(Courtesy of Endicott Sports Information)

BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott College took a 15-0 lead into halftime before coasting past the visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology, 20-4, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference men's lacrosse game on Tuesday evening in Beverly, Mass. The Gulls improve to 8-5 overall and 7-1 in league play, while the Leopards slip to 4-7 and 2-6 in the TCCC.

It took just 1:10 into the opening quarter for Endicott's Connor McCormack (Norwalk, Conn.) to get the Gulls on the board. The EC freshman took a fast-break feed from junior Brendan McCarthy (Arlington, Vt.) and stuck a shot to the low right to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The Blue and Green potted seven more first quarter goals, including two by Jon Thanas (Cumberland, R.I.), to lead 8-0 after one.

It was much the same in the second stanza as Endicott rattled off seven additional tallies to increase its lead to 15-0 at the intermission. Brad Lipkvich (Madison, Conn.), who scored in the first quarter, added two more goals in the second to help the Gulls cruise into halftime.

Wentworth's Connor Swanson (Holden, Mass.) broke the scoreless drought 5:06 into the third quarter as he scored on a bounce shot from seven yards out to finally get the visitors on the board. After Endicott's Harry Holden (Duxbury, Mass.) put the Gulls up 16-1, the Leopards scored three straight, including the second of the day from Swanson. Endicott responded by closing out the game on a 4-0 run, including three man-up tallies in the closing five minutes of play.

Lipkvich led all players with a game-high three goals. Brian Estes (Derry, N.H.), Colin Prescott (Norwalk, Conn.), Jon Thanas, Greg Dunlavey (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) and Chris Cotter (Fairfield, Conn.) each added two goals apiece for the Gulls. Three Endicott goalkeepers combined to make 12 saves, including five in the first half from senior Eric Hagarty (Sudbury, Mass.). Sophomore Sam Ozycz (Cheshire, Conn.) went 23-for-26 at the face-off X and had a season-high 17 groundballs.

Connor Swanson led the Leopards with two goals, while senior defenseman Jeff Ryan (Shrewsbury, Mass.) had eight groundballs and caused four turnovers. Mike Sharpe (Needham, Mass.) added a goal and an assist in the losing effort.

Endicott returns to action on Saturday when the Gulls step out of league play to host Bowdoin College at 2:00 p.m. in Beverly, Mass. Wentworth looks to halt its three game skid on the same day when the Leopards travel to Dudley, Mass. to face Nichols College for a noon start with the Bison.