BEVERLY, Mass. - The No. 24 Endicott field hockey team claimed the program's eighth conference championship today and second consecutive Conference of New England (CNE) title as the Gulls defeated Roger Williams, 2-1 (OT).

Endicott improved to 16-4 this season and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, with the selection show set for Sunday, November 9 at 9 PM.

For her efforts in the CNE Tournament, junior goalie Faith Minickene (Madison, Conn.) was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

In a tightly contested rematch from last season's Championship game, the Hawks got the first chances in the extra period, but Minickene made four consecutive saves including a pad save on a rising shot that was earmarked for the goal.

Then on Endicott's possession shortly afterwards, Kate Harris (Andover, Mass.) had a great individual effort to drive the ball right side of the field and into circle before eventually being awarded a corner, the Gulls eighth of the contest.

After Lily Johnson (Paxton, Mass.) had her shot blocked on the penalty corner opportunity, the ball bounced to Riley Perkins (Lakeville, Mass.), who swung a pass to an open Abby Antonelli (Worcester, Mass.) and the graduate student blasted home her third game-wining goal of the season to secure the CNE Championship victory.

Libby Corsetti (Arlington, Mass.) got the visiting Hawks on the board first with 2:06 left in the first quarter. Corsetti tipped home a pass from Eva Wood (Sandwich, Mass.) for her fourth goal of the season.

The Blue and Green has chances to knot up the game throughout the second quarter but were unable to find the back of the net keeping the game at 1-0 going to halftime.

Coming out of halftime, Roger Williams had all the momentum, outshooting Endicott 11-0 in the third quarter, along with having the corner advantage 5-1. The defense of Adie Bolduc (Weare, N.H.), Kathleen Culmo (West Hartford, Conn.), Harris, Perkins, Ella Perry (Rutland, Mass.), and Lexi Santoro (Trumbull, Conn.) all kept the game at a stalemate, while Minickene made three saves as well.

In the fourth quarter, Endicott worked a penanlty corner with 7:30 remaining. The Gulls worked the ball to an open Antonelli on the right wing and her shot was initially saved but the rebound popped to a wide-open Madison Barwood (White River Junction, Vt.) on the back post as she potted her seventh tally this season.

Both goalies came up with clutch saves over the course of the final several minutes, denying goal-scoring opportunities on both sides, forcing the game to overtime.

For the game, Minickene finished with 10 saves to pick up the victory and improve to 15-4 this season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott defeated Roger Williams in last season's CNE Championship by the exact same scoreline, 2-1 (OT)
• The Blue and Green avenged a double-overtime loss in the regular season to Roger Williams (2-1, 2OT)
• Fourth all-time meeting between the two programs in the postseason, with Gulls holding a 4-0 advantage (3-0 in championship games)
• Over the course of the CNE Tournament, Minicke recorded 13 saves.
• During eight postseason games in her career, Antonelli has scored four goals and two game-winning goals.
• Fourth conference championship in the last six seasons for Endicott.