SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) soccer team capitalized with a pair of goals in the second half enroute to a 3-0 victory over Mount Holyoke College on Saturday in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action. The Engineers move to 10-6-2 overall and 4-5-1 in conference play, while the Lyons conclude their season with a 6-12-0 record and 1-9-0 mark in the NEWMAC.
The win for the Engineers also secured a bid into the NEWMAC Tournament, which is the first for WPI since the 2010 season. Entering as the sixth-seed in this year's field, the Engineers will return to action on Tuesday at 2:30pm to face the third-seed, which will be the winner of the Springfield/Wellesley game, played later on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Megan Forti (Lynn, Mass./Lynn English) led the Engineers with two goals during the game and put WPI on the board late in the first half. With two minutes left in the first half, Forti scored off a cross provided by first year Emma Turton (Poland, Maine/Poland). The ball was sent high over traffic and finished low into the left corner past the goal tender.
The senior had a chance earlier in the half with a shot high up the middle but first year goalie Zoe Marshall (Mississauga, Ont./Cawthra Park Secondary) one handedly tipped the ball out of play.
Senior Courtney Langley (Fairfield, Maine/Lawrence) scored in the 63rd minute off a cross provided by first year Janine Fatal (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury). Langley sent the ball in hard into the lower right corner to seal a 2-0 lead in the second half.
Fatal had a great attempt on goal, shooting hard at Marshall but first year Anne Shaffrey (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville) was there to clear the loose ball from any danger. Marshall had 11 saves through the game and WPI's senior keeper Maddie Willer (Penfield, NY./East Lyme) had one.
A foul committed in the box led to a penalty kick for WPI, taken by Forti in the 78th minute. Her kick went straight into the back of the net to bring WPI past Mount Holyoke.
WPI had 12 shots in the first half compared to Mount Holyoke's three and led the contest with 22 all-together. The Lyons were held to just six shots in the contest. WPI also held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Story by Samantha Campagna '14, Mount Holyoke Sports Information.
