Norton, MA --- A second-half goal from Elizabeth Rocco (Fresh Meadows, NY) lifted visiting WPI past Wheaton, 2-1, in a NEWMAC Women's Soccer match-up Tuesday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium. 

WPI, winners of three straight, are now 13-3 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.  The Engineers have 15 points in the conference standings and moved ahead of the Lyons (7-4-3, 4-3 NEWMAC - 12 points) and Coast Guard (4-3-1 - 13 points) into fourth place in the conference.  Teams seeded second, third and fourth host quarterfinal matches in the seven-team conference tournament. 

The Crimson and Gray took an early 1-0 lead on a Kristen McCrea (Weymouth, MA) goal in the 17th minute after collecting the ball at the edge of the six-yard box, where she slipped a shot near post under the  stretched out Wheaton goalkeeper.   The goal was her 13th tally of the season and 37th career goal for the senior who now sits at 98 career points. 

The Lyons tied the game at 1-1 in the 26th minute when Hannah Lepordo (Sudbury, MA) found Chloe Troy (Wethersfield, CT) for her team-leading 10th goal of the year. The play started with Jaime Rattenni (West Greenwich, RI) who beat a couple of players down the left side of the field before sending the ball across to Lepordo, who was able to find Troy at the right side of the goal, where she beat a defender, before pulling the ball back across her body and into the net. 

WPI netted the game-winner in the 63rd minute when Sofia Orrico (Bethel, CT) dished the ball to Rocco who was able to put it away.  It was the second career goal for the junior, who also had the overtime game-winner earlier this season against Roger Williams. 

Alexa Barbagallo (Bridgewater, NJ) ended the contest with four saves for the hosts, while Mandy St. Germain (Upton, MA) finished the contest with six saves for the Engineers.  

The visitors held a slim 18-14 edge in shots, while Wheaton took five of the match's six corner kicks. 

WPI in back in action this weekend, hosting Wellesley in its final home match of the regular season.  Wheaton is also next at home, taking on Mount Holyoke in an All-Lyons affair on Saturday at 1pm.

Majority of Release Courtesy Wheaton Sports Information