WORCESTER -- WPI men's soccer received a first goal from Billy Chissoe (Gig Harbor, WA) and a second half tally by Anthony Coutts (Millis, MA) and goalkeeper Ryan Martin (Douglas, MA) punctuated the shoutout by saving a penalty in the last 10 minutes, as the Engineers ran an unbeaten streak to nine matches with a 2-0 triumph over visiting Coast Guard in a NEWMAC men's soccer matchup played on a rainy Saturday afternoon.   
 
WPI, which appeared in the initial NCAA Division III regional rankings listed alphabetically earlier this week, is now 7-3-6 on the season and 5-1-1 in conference action.  The Crimson and Gray now have 16 points and is assured of a top three NEWMAC regular season showing, guaranteeing at least one home match in the upcoming league tournament. The Engineers are tied atop the NEWMAC standings with Babson (5-0-1), but the Beavers have a game in hand and hold the head-to-head advantage while MIT (4-1-1) is three points back and also have a game in hand over WPI.  The Beavers defeated Cambridge's Engineers 2-0 today in Wellesley.  
 
Coast Guard is now 2-5-7 overall and 1-2-4 in NEWMAC play.
 
The hosts dented the scoring column early in the sixth minute.  Luke Savoie's (Mansfield, MA) header was blocked in traffic but the Bears were unable to clear the ball and Chissoe was ready to pounce, belting a volley into the right side of the goal for the graduate student's second goal of the season just 6:15 in.  The rest of the first half was essentially devoid of quality scoring chances with the guests holding a 7-5 edge in shots and Martin recording the only save of the session.
 
The Engineers registered an insurance goal midway through the second half.  Francesco Valagussa (Arlington, MA) tracked a ball down on the left side of and chipped a ball towards the box that was headed in by Coutts at 63:35 to make the score 2-0.  The marker was the sophomore second goal of both 2023 and his career.
 
Martin then took centerstage as the goalkeeper dove to his right to snatch a Coast Guard penalty kick with a just 8:26 remaining.  Martin ended the day with six saves.
 
The match with very even statistically with the guests enjoying a slight 14-13 advantage in shots and each team awarded four corner kicks.  Wolfgang Palghar (Fairfield, CT) was credited with one stop for the Bears while teammate Charles Fish (Little Silver, NJ) paced all players with four shots.
 
WPI closes out the regular season on Wednesday at 4pm traveling to fellow NEWMAC tri-leader MIT.  Coast Guard closes out a brief two-match road trip on Wednesday, venturing to Emerson for a 6pm kickoff.