SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Oct. 18, 2011) – Senior midfielder Suzanne Najem scored what proved to be the winner in the final minute of the first half, as the WPI soccer team topped Mount Holyoke College 2-1 this afternoon at the Mount Holyoke Soccer Field. With the win, the Engineers snapped a four-match slide. It was their first NEWMAC triumph of the fall.

Mount Holyoke jumped out to a 1-0 edge 9:47 into the contest, when first year forward Amber Legare beat a WPI defender to a through pass from senior midfielder Mary Cooke, broke in alone and rifled a shot past sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Willer. It was her first collegiate tally.

First year midfielder Gabrielle McIninch got the Engineers on the board with her first career goal at the 29:38 mark. After receiving a short feed from sophomore midfielder Kelly Ames, she lofted a shot over the outstretched arms of first year goalkeeper Mackenzie Randall from about 30 yards out.

Najem then broke the tie with her first goal of the season with just 40 seconds remaining in the opening frame. After collecting a short back pass from sophomore midfielder Theresa Renna on the right side of the box, Najem snapped a shot off the hands of a diving Randall into the left corner of the goal.

The Lyons dominated possession in the second half, but Willer was up to the task. All six of her saves came after the break. Her best came in the 70^th minute, when she came way off her line to stop a rush by Legare.

Mount Holyoke also had a golden chance to net the equalizer in the 52^nd minute, when a penalty kick by Cooke met the right post.

Randall finished with five saves for the Lyons, who fell for the fourth straight time despite advantages in both shots (16-12) and corners (8-1).

Mount Holyoke (3-9-0, 2-5-0 NEWMAC) is slated to visit Elms College for a non-conference contest beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Meanwhile, WPI (3-11-1, 1-5-1 NEWMAC) will resume its NEWMAC schedule at Wellesley College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.