WORCESTER -- Three different WPI players recorded goals Wednesday evening as the Engineers made the short trek down Park Ave. a successful one as they came away with a 3-1 victory over city foe Clark in a NEWMAC men's soccer matchup.
WPI, which appeared in the initial NCAA Division III regional rankings released today, pushed its unbeaten streak to eight matches (5-0-3) and is now 6-3-6 overall and 4-1-1 in conference play. The Crimson and Gray secured a spot in the six-team NEWMAC Tournament in two weeks and moved into a three-way tie atop the league's standings with Babson(4-0-1) and MIT (4-0-1) with 13 points. The Engineers have two matches to play but have their bye the final weekend of the season while the other two teams both have a game in hand. Clark dips to 3-9-3 on the season and 1-4-1 in conference play.
The visitors scored on the first shot of the game and in the opening minute of the second half. It was a pair of Anthony's that got WPI on the board just 4:23 in as
Anthony Previte (Andover, MA) serviced in a free kick that found the foot of
Anthony Coutts (Millis, MA) and the sophomore drilled the ball home for his first career goal. After Clark had tied the game on an owe goal 10 minutes before the break, the Engineers only needed 23 seconds after intermission to regain the lead for good when
Francesco Valagussa (Arlington, MA) knocked home a rebound of a Previte shot for his team-leading fifth goal of the season and 15th of his career.
The Engineers put the game out of hand in 74th minute when
Aaron Vaz (Medford, MA) netted a goal for the second straight game, this time off an assist from
Luke Savoie (Mansfield, MA).
WPI netminder
Ryan Martin (Douglas, MA) equaled his career-best with seven saves.
Andrew Distefano (West Chester, PA) racked up six stops for the hosts.
Statistically the match-up could not have been much closer. Both teams were credited with 11 shots in the first half and nine after intermission while Clark enjoyed the slightest of edges in corners (5-4) with the Engineers attempting all of theirs in the opening 45 minutes and the Cougars all of theirs in the second half.
WPI wraps up its regular season home schedule on Saturday, playing host to Coast Guard at H. Carr Stadium at 1pm. Clark has its NEWMAC bye Saturday and played the middle contest of a three-game season-ending homestand next Wednesday, entertaining No.8 Babson at 5pm.
