Worcester, MA --- Emily Wilson's (Portland, OR) goal in the 77th minute helped visiting Wellesley secure a NEWMAC Tournament bid as the Blue defeated WPI 1-0 in a NEWMAC regular season contest played on Saturday afternoon.
Wellesley improves to 7-8-1 and evens its conference mark at 4-4. WPI, who has lost five straight games by one goal, the last four by identical 1-0 scores, is now 5-11 on the season and 1-7 in NEWMAC play.
The visitors dented the scoring column when Ava Mokhta (Eden Prairie, MN) dribbled into the box and fed a streaking Wilson, who knocked the ball past the WPI goalkeeper. The goal at 76:07 was the junior's fourth marker of the season.
After the goal, WPI had two outstanding scoring chances by Megan Forti (Lynn) in the final five minutes. The first at 86:24 saw Forti squeeze past the defense but was met by Wellesley netminder Claire Cerda (Coral Gables, FL), who smothered the attempt on goal.
Forti's final bid came with 40 seconds to go when she headed a cross that hit the inside of the left post and went across the goal line only to be scooped by Cerda.
After a scoreless first half that saw Wellesley take seven of the stanza's nine shots, WPI came out in an attacking mode to open the second half with
Emily Doherty (Worcester, MA) hitting the cross bar from the right side at 53:26. The Blue then rattled off three straight shots that were all turned away by WPI goalkeeper
Maddie Willer (Penfield, NY).
Cerda was credited with four saves in the winning effort in net while Willer made nine stops for WPI. Wellesley ended the game with a 16-7 edge in shots and each team attempted three corner kicks.
WPI is off until next Saturday when they travel to New London, CT for a noon match against Coast Guard. Wellesley plays its final regular season contest on Wednesday, heading to Simmons for a 7pm showdown.
