Salem, MA --- The WPI women's soccer team defeated Salem State 7-1 on Friday afternoon at Alumni Field to open the 2023 season and hand Head Coach
Steph Riley-Schafer her 100th career win.
Mia Gilmore (Canton, MA) scored twice and
Lottie McLeod (Newton, MA) had a goal and two assists as WPI (1-0) collected their eighth consecutive win against the Vikings (0-1). The tandem of juniors helped WPI take a 2-0 lead inside of the first four minutes.
Gilmore opened the season's scoring just 2:20 after the opening whistle, and McLeod set up teammate
Madisyn Bagby (Aurora, CO) just a minute and thirty-three seconds later.
The Engineers fired 25 shots in the first half, on their way to a 41-4 advantage in attempts, and a 28-3 edge in shots on goal. Salem State senior goalie Lily Pfefferle (St. Paul, MN) was kept busy, making 21 saves, including 16 of them in the first half.
By the 20th minute, Gilmore had bagged her brace and senior
Hannah Wolfgang (Holliston, MA) netted at the midway mark of the first half as the Engineers took a 3-0 lead into the break.
McLeod scored six minutes into the second half before the Vikings got on the board when
Anna Latta(Southbury, CT) scored the first goal of Salem State's season, with the assist from
Brenna Paquette (Hudson, NH).
For the second time in the evening, WPI struck in quick succession, as
Delaney Mohl (Hopewell Junction, NY) scored in the 86th minute, and
Maeve Steckley (Rochester, NY) capped the scoring less than two minutes later. It was the first collegiate goal for each of the two freshmen.
Riann Divine (Albuquerque, NM) made two saves and allowed just one goal against to earn the victory in between the pipes for the visitors.
Riley-Schafer, in her 11th season at the helm of the program, will lead the Engineers to Maine tomorrow for the second half of a back-to-back to open the 2023 season. WPI will face the University of New England in Biddeford at 7pm.
Salem State is also right back in action with a home game against UMass Dartmouth at 2pm tomorrow.
Box Score
